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The Arabian Nights 
Entertainments 

^ Stories from Ip 

} The Thousand and § 

One Nights 

J Told for Y)ung People F 
^ Martha A. L. Lane J/ 


Illustrated by RubyWinckler 


Ginn and Company 

Boston " NewYork Chicago *“ London 





COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY GINN AND COMPANY 
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 


”5-3 


XChe iStIbenseum 3[)vtilg 

GINN AND COMPANY • PRO- 
PRIETORS • BOSTON • U.S.A. 

©CI.A3!)8G29 


\l J. <^7 


PREFACE 


M 


^ /TORE than two hundred years ago a certain 
Frenchman, Antoine Galland, who had been 
connected with the French embassy at Con- 
stantinople, began to translate into his own language a 
series of Arabic tales which had come to his knowledge 
during his stay in the East. At first the stories were sup- 
posed to be for children only, but before long all classes of 
readers were eagerly awaiting the appearance of the next 
set of ta]£S. Groups of young men would gather at night 
beneath Galland’s window and call to him, " O you who can 
tell such wonderful stories, give us just one more ! ” 

As soon as the stories were translated into English, 
inquiries were made as to the originals. It was discov- 
ered that while M. Galland had severely abbreviated the 
Arabic text he had also inserted narratives of the same 
kind from other sources to fill the gaps in his collection. 
Critics agree that he had a discriminating judgment as to 
what would be most entertaining to European readers, and 
time has justified his inclusion of what are now known as 
the interpolated tales,” among which are ” Prince Zeyn,” 
“Aladdin,” “AliBaba,” “The Talking Bird,” “Ali Cogia,” 
and “ Prince Ahmed ” of this collection. In fact, many of 
us, if asked to name the most famous of the stories, would 
mention these before others of undoubted authenticity, 
[iii] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


No one knows who wrote the Arabian Nights or when 
the stories were first collected. Probably they are by many 
authors and were repeated about Bedouin camp fires or 
told by professional story-tellers in kings’ palaces long be- 
fore they were put into written form. The caliph Haroun 
al-Raschid, his wife Zobeide, his 'vizier Jaafar, and his 
executioner Mesrour are frequently mentioned in the tales, 
and as Haroun was a contemporary of Charlemagne, we 
cannot give to these stories an earlier date than the ninth 
century. At that period, when most of the Western world 
was still in the darkness of barbarism and ignorance, and 
when many European kings could neither read nor write, 
the Arabians possessed both learning and culture. It is 
probable that most of the stories were written before the 
fourteenth century, as in the whole collection there are 
only three references to coffee-drinking, a custom now 
so general in the East that its omission in the detailed 
accounts of feasting and merrymaking is noticeable. 
Coffee-drinking became common in the fourteenth cen- 
tury, and therefore we must conclude that the stories 
were not of a later origin. 

The Thousand and One Nights, as the collection is 
sometimes called, makes constant reference to the customs 
and religious beliefs of the followers of Mohammed. A 
brief explanation of their faith may not be out of place. 
They believe in one God, to whom they give the name of 
Allah, and they have taken several articles of their creed 
from the Jews and the Christians as well as from the 
Arabians and Persians. From the Persians came the 
[iv] 


PREFACE 


belief in the existence of genii, or jinn — spirits created of 
fire, who have strange and magical powers. The Moham- 
medans are firm believers in the doctrine that all things 
are planned from the beginning of the world, and that no 
one can escape the fate that is marked out for him. 

The sacred book of the Mohammedans is the Koran, 
in which they are taught that Allah has revealed himself to 
various prophets. The Pentateuch, or the first five books 
of our Bible, the Psalms, and the Gospels are all regarded 
by them as holy, but Mohammed is considered the latest 
and most divine of the prophets. His followers believe in 
prayer, in morality of life, in fasting and giving alms, and 
in the pilgrimage to their sacred city of Mecca as an act 
of worship. They are a temperate and cleanly people, the 
use of wine being strictly forbidden, and frequent ablutions 
being required as a religious duty. The devout Mussulman 
is an exemplary and law-abiding person, honest and kind 
and helpful in his daily living. 

It must be understood, however, that these stories are 
pure narrative and have no moral or religious significance. 
They are simply stories, and while they throw interesting 
side lights on the customs of the time, they were never 
intended to be instructive. They have become so famous 
that no one could be considered well-read who failed to 
recognize a reference to Ali Baba, Sindbad’s Voyages, 
Aladdin’s Lamp, or the Enchanted Horse, and therefore 
they must be included in any course of literary study ; but 
the joy of the reading should be sufficient inducement 
for all story-lovers. 


[V] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


In the East the collection is known as Alif laila wa- 
laila, or "A thousand nights and one night.” As the 
study of the ancient texts progressed, many different copies 
were found. Some of them had been abridged, and it was 
hard to find two that were alike. It was evident also that 
each province had added stories which were popular in 
that particular region. This fact may account in some 
measure for the many liberties that have been taken in 
the English editions. Among the latter the most famous 
are the translations of Jonathan Scott, Sir Richard Burton, 
Edward William Lane, and John Payne. Dr. Scott made 
no attempt to furnish a literal translation or to give an 
oriental flavor to his style ; he did precisely what Galland 
had done in P'rench — that is, he told the story in his own 
phraseology. But literary students were not quite satisfied 
with this, for something of the charm was lost. It was like 
putting the stories from the Bible or from Homer into our 
modern speech ; the form of the ancient narrative was 
marred. So when Dr. Lane’s scholarly translation was 
published, it was eagerly welcomed. The Arabic stories 
are, however, extremely simple in form. They are told as 
a child tells an experience of his own, with many ”ands” 
and ” thens ” to connect the different items of the tale. 
Lane’s edition was at the same time too elaborate and too 
much abridged to be an equivalent, and there were students 
of Arabic literature who were better satisfied with the full 
translations. 

There is in the detailed versions much which to us 
seems tiresome and unnecessary. The poetical selections, 

[Vi] 


PREFACE 


especially, have little interest for modern readers, although 
these impromptu verses were an essential feature of the 
original tales. An abridged edition being required for 
school use, it has been my purpose to select the most 
famous and characteristic of the stories and to give to 
them something of the original flavor. This was the more 
practicable because they were first cast in a form natural 
to oral story-telling. As, however, some of the tales are 
evidently much later in their origin than those that belong 
to the original collection, I have given these — notably 
'' Aladdin” and " Ali Baba” — a more modern phrasing. 

There are in the different versions many inconsisten- 
cies, but these are in the main unimportant. Proper names, 
especially, are given in various forms ; I have endeavored 
to select the form most common in general literature. It 
is a small matter also whether we say " Gulnare ” or 
'' Jullnar,” '' Giafar ” or " Jaafar,” ” Moslems ” or Mus- 
sulmans,” " caliph ” or ” khalifah ” ; but it is in the highest 
degree desirable that we recognize the place held in liter- 
ature by this immortal fragment,” as Burton calls it. 
Fortunately when we have once read of Sindbad and Agib 
and Bedreddin the magic begins to work, and we do not 
need wise scholars to tell us that here is a wonderful realm 
of enchantment into which every reader with a spark of 
imagination in his nature will gladly enter. 

M. A. L. L. 


[vii] 



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CONTENTS 


PAGE 

INTRODUCTION I 

THE MERCHANT AND THE GENIE 5 

THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN 13 

THE KING OF THE BLACK ISLES 26 

PRINCE AGIB (THE STORY OF THE CALENDER) ... 35 

THE HUNCHBACK 51 

ALNASCHAR 62 

THE BARMECIDE’S FEAST 66 

THE THREE APPLES 73 

NOUREDDIN ALI AND BEDREDDIN HASSAN 83 

PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN 1 09 

THE ENCHANTED HORSE 148 

GULNARE OF THE SEA 164 

PRINCE AHMED AND THE FAIRY PERIBANOU .... 1 74 

ALI COGIA 201 

ALI THE PERSIAN 210 

SINDBAD THE SAILOR 214 

PRINCE ZEYN AND THE KING OF THE JINN .... 25 I 

THE TALKING BIRD 264 

ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP 295 

ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES 330 

NOTES 353 

PRONOUNCING LIST OF NAMES 363 


Once on a time 

There was a little boy : a master-mage 
By virtue of a Book 
Of magic — O, so magical it filled 
His life with visionary pomps 
Processional ! . . . 

What but that blessed brief 

Of what is gallantest and best 

In all the full-shelved Libraries of Romance ? 

The Book of rocs, 

Sandalwood, ivory, turbans, ambergris. 

Cream tarts, and lettered apes, and calenders. 

And ghouls, and genies — O so huge 
They might have overed the tall minster tower 
Hands down, as schoolboys take a post ! 

In truth, the Book of Camaralzaman, 
Schemselnihar and Sindbad, Scheherazade 
The peerless, Bedreddin, Badroulbadour, 

Cairo and Serendib and Candahar, — 

The sole, unparalleled Arabian Nights ! 

William Ernest Henley 
Arabian Nights’ Entertainments 


[X] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS’ 
ENTERTAINMENTS 



THE ARABIAN NIGHTS’ 
ENTERTAINMENTS 


INTRODUCTION 


^ >*HERE lived in the old days a king who 
reigned over India and China, and who was 
AL lord of armies and guards and servants of 
all kinds. He had two sons, the elder of whom 
was called Shahriyar and the younger Shahzeman. 
On the death of the king, Shahriyar succeeded 
to his throne, while the younger brother ruled 
over Samarkand of Tartary. 

After many years had gone by the elder king 
longed to see his brother and directed his vizier 
to fetch Shahzeman to him for a friendly visit. 
Orders were given for expensive stuffs and for 
horses adorned with gold and jewels, which were 
to be presented to the king of Samarkand. Shah- 
riyar then wrote a letter to his brother, and hav- 
ing given it to the vizier, he commanded that 
[I] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


officer to tuck up his skirts and strain every 
nerve to make a swift journey. The vizier an- 
swered, '' I hear and I obey,” and set out at once. 

When the caravan arrived at the city of Samar- 
kand the vizier was courteously welcomed and 
entertained with all the ceremony befitting his 
high rank. In three days preparations were made 
for the return journey, and Shahzeman with an 
ample escort and costly presents set forth for his 
brother’s court, where he was received with much 
rejoicing. 

Now it happened that both King Shahzeman 
and King Shahriyar had been sadly deceived by 
the women they had married, and no sooner did 
they talk together in confidence than each dis- 
covered the other’s sorrow. They became con- 
vinced that all women were untrustworthy, and 
soon after his brother’s visit was ended, King 
Shahriyar devised a plan by which to rid the 
world of their treachery. 

Every day he chose a daughter of one of his 
nobles to be his bride, and on the following 
morning gave her over to his vizier to be be- 
headed. This he continued to do until the people 
raised an outcry against his cruelty and fled with 
their daughters from the city. One morning, to 
[ 2 ] 


INTRODUCTION 


his dismay, the vizier could find no maiden who 
was ready to become the royal bride. 

The vizier himself had two charming daughters, 
the elder of whom was called Scheherazade and 
the younger Dinarzade. The former had read 
many books of history and stories of past times, 
and when she saw her father sad and downcast she 
said to him : " Why do I see thee so changed and 
oppressed with grief ? One of our poets has said. 

Tell him who is anxious that this will not last ; 

As happiness passes, so passes anxiety.” 

Then the vizier told her all that had happened, 
and she said to him : O my father, give me in 
marriage to the king ! If I die, I shall at least 
save one other woman, and if I live, I shall be 
the deliverer of all the rest.” 

In vain did the unhappy vizier protest against 
his daughter’s plan. Finding all his arguments 
of no avail, he finally betook himself to the king. 
Meanwhile Scheherazade unfolded her plan to her 
sister and obtained the promise of her assistance. 

When evening came and the king lifted the 
veil from his wife’s face he was rejoiced to find 
her so beautiful. '' But why dost thou weep ? ” 
he asked. 


[ 3 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


She answered: "O king, I have a young sister 
whom I love and who loves me very dearly. 
I know that to-morrow I shall be sent forth to 
die, and before that time comes I long to take 
leave of her.” 

” It is well,” said the king. Thy desire shall 
be granted. Let a messenger be sent to thy 
sister without delay.” 

When Dinarzade was admitted to the royal 
apartments she embraced the lovely bride, and 
having waited for a proper opportunity said to 
her, " O my sister, in the little time that remains 
to us before we are parted forever, tell us, I pray 
thee, one of thy entertaining stories. Alas ! this 
will be the last night that I shall enjoy such a 
pleasure.” 

Gladly will I do so, my sister,” answered 
Scheherazade, ” if the king is kind enough to 
permit me.” 

Tell on,” quoth the king, who chanced to be 
restless, and who was pleased with the prospect 
of hearing the tale. Accordingly Scheherazade 
began : 


[ 4 ] 



THE MERCHANT AND THE GENIE. 

^T IS related, O king, that there was a mer- 
chant who had great riches. On a certain 
JL day he mounted his horse and journeyed to a 
neighboring country to collect what was due him. 
The heat was oppressive, and having stopped to 
rest himself under a tree, he ate a morsel of bread 
and a date which were among his provisions. When 
he had eaten the date he threw away the stone. 
Immediately an enormous genie appeared before 
him with a sword in his hand, and cried, " Rise, 
that I may kill thee, as thou hast killed my son ! ” 
How have I killed thy son?” asked the 
merchant. 

The genie answered, '' The stone from the date 
that thou hast eaten was flung aside by thy care- 
less hand and struck my son so that he died.” 

[ 5 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


The merchant, on hearing these words, ex- 
claimed: ” Verily I meant no harm. If I killed 
him, I did it without knowing it. I trust then 
that thou wilt pardon me.” 

Thou must die,” returned the genie, and 
raised his sword to smite him, but the unhappy 
merchant cried out, begging for mercy. 

Spare thy words,” said the genie, for thy 
time is come.” 

Then said the merchant : '' Know, O genie, that 
I have much property, and children, and a wife, 
and I have also debts to pay. Let me, therefore, 
go back to my house and give to every man his 
due, and then I will return to thee, and thou shalt 
do as thou wilt. I bind myself by a vow that I 
will surely return.” 

Upon this the genie accepted his promise and 
set him free until the end of the year. The mer- 
chant, therefore, returned to his house and put 
his affairs in order. He paid every one what he 
owed him and remained with his family until the 
time came for him to seek the genie. Then, bid- 
ding his weeping wife farewell, he set forth to 
fulfill his promise. 

As he sat under the tree waiting for the ap- 
pearance of the genie, an aged sheik approached, 
[ 6 ] 






THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


leading a gazelle. The sheik saluted the merchant 
and said to him : What is the reason that thou 
sittest alone in this place Dost thou not know 
that it is a resort of the jinn ? ” 

Then the merchant informed him of all that 
had happened and of the cause of his being there, 
at which the sheik was astonished beyond measure 
and said to him : O my brother, thy story is won- 
derful. Verily I will not quit this place before I 
see what the genie will do unto thee.” 

In a short time a huge cloud of dust and vapor 
was seen advancing toward them, and from the 
midst of it stepped forth the genie. A drawn 
sword was in his hand, and his eyes sent out 
darts of fire. 

" Rise,” said he to the merchant, " that I may 
kill thee as thou hast killed my son ! ” 

Then the sheik came forward and said, ” O thou 
genie and prince of genii, if I relate to thee the 
story of this gazelle, and if thou shalt find it to 
be. more wonderful than the adventure of the mer- 
chant here, wilt thou give up thy claim to his life ? ” 
And the genie answered: ''Yes, O sheik. If 
thou relate to me the story, and I find it to be 
as thou hast said, I will give up to thee my claim 
upon his life.” 


[ 8 ] 


THE MERCHANT AND THE GENIE 


Then said the sheik: '^Know, O genie, that I 
had once a wife and a slave and a beloved son. 

It happened that I had occasion to journey to a 
distant city, and during my absence my wife, who 
had studied enchantment, transformed my slave 
into a cow and my young son into a calf and 
gave them both into the care of a herdsman. 

When I returned after a long time and inquired 
for my household, my wife said, * Thy slave is 
dead, and as for thy son I know not whither he 
has fled.’ Then was my sorrow great, and for the 
space of a year I mourned for them. 

” One day when I had ordered my herdsman 
to fetch a cow for the sacrifice, he brought me 
my slave whom my wife had enchanted. And the 
cow mourned so violently that I would not slay % 
her, but ordered the herdsman to bring me a calf 
instead, whereupon he led out my son who had 
been transformed into a calf. I went up to him, 
knife in hand — ” 

Here Scheherazade saw that it was dawn and 
ceased her story. Then said Dinarzade, How 
interesting is thy tale, my sister ! ” 

" It is nothing,” said Scheherazade, "to the tales 
I could tell thee were the king willing to listen.” 

[ 9 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


Then said the king to himself, " I will not slay 
her until the story is ended.” 

So he went forth to the audience hall and issued 
his orders and gave judgment even unto the close 
of the day, and he told the vizier not one word 
of what had happened. The vizier wondered with 
exceeding wonder, but when the court broke up 
the king entered his palace without satisfying his 
chief officer’s curiosity. 

Now when it was the second night Dinarzade 
said, “ O my sister, let us hear the ending of thy 
story.” 

Willingly,” said Scheherazade, " if the king 
will grant his permission.” 

” Tell thy tale,” said the king, and she went on : 

As I approached the calf,” continued the sheik, 
” I saw that his eyes were filled with tears, and I 
said to the herdsman, ' Let this calf remain with 
the cattle.’ My wife, looking on, said, * Kill the 
calf, for he is fat,’ but I could not do it, so the 
herdsman took him away. On the following day 
the man came to me and said, * O my master, I 
have something to tell thee that thou wilt be glad 
to hear, and a reward is due to me for bringing 
good news.’ 

[ lo] 


THE MERCHANT AND THE GENIE 

I answered, ' Well,’ and he said, ’ O my master, 
I have a daughter who has studied enchantment, 
and yesterday when she looked at the calf that 
thou gavest me she said, '' O my father, this is no 
calf, but the son of our master, the merchant.” ’ 

When I heard, O genie, the words of the 
herdsman, I went forth with him to his house, 
and the calf came and fawned upon me. And 1 
said to the daughter, ' Is this true that thou hast 
said concerning the calf ? ’ She answered, ' Y es, 

0 my master, he is thy son.’ 

” Then said I, ‘ O maiden, if thou wilt restore 
him to me, all the cattle that thy father has in 
his care shall be thine.’ 

Upon this she smiled and said, ' O my master, 

1 desire to make but two conditions : one is that 
thou shalt permit thy son to be my husband, and 
the second is that I may enchant her who en- 
chanted him, lest she work evil again.’ 

On hearing her words, O genie, I gave my 
consent, and she sprinkled the calf with water 
from a cup, saying, ^ If thou wert created a calf, 
remain in that form; but if thou be enchanted, 
return to thy original shape.’ 

Then the calf shook himself and became a 
man, even my son, and I gave him for a husband 
[II] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


to the herdsman’s daughter as I had promised ; 
after which she transformed my wicked wife into 
this gazelle. Happening to pass this way, I saw 
the merchant sitting here and begged him to tell 
me what had happened to him. Then I waited 
to see what would be the end of the affair. This 
is my story.” 

Then the genie said, This is indeed a strange 
tale of thine, and I give up to thee my claim upon 
his life. Go in peace.” 

When Scheherazade had finished, the king said, 
” Truly, that was a marvelous tale.” 

But not more marvelous than the story of the 
fisherman,” she replied. 

Let us hear that also,” said the king. 

So on each succeeding night Scheherazade continued to 
interest her husband by her stories, until many weeks and 
months had gone by, and she had gained his entire confidence 
and affection. Greatly did the vizier rejoice that no orders were 
given to put her to death, and all the people shared in his 
satisfaction. Among the many stories that Scheherazade 
told the king in the thousand and one nights that she devoted 
to his amusement are the following. 


[ 12 ] 



THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN 


>IHERE was once a fisherman, no longer 
young, who was so poor that he could hardly 
obtain food for himself, his wife, and his 
three children. He went out very early in the 
morning to his work, but he made it his rule 
never to cast his net more than four times a day. 

One morning, having thrown his net three times 
without the least success, he was very unhappy, 
but as he drew together the strings for the fourth 
time, he found that it was too heavy for him to 
pull up. Then he stripped himself, and diving 
into the water he dragged at the net until he 
lifted it to the shore. When he opened it he 
found in it a brass bottle, closed with a stopper 
of lead which bore the seal of Solomon. 

At the sight the fisherman was rejoiced and 
said : This I will sell in the market place, for it 
must be worth ten pieces of gold. I will open 

[13] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


it to see what is in it, and then I will sell it to 
the highest bidder.” 

So he took his knife from his girdle and picked 
out the stopper. Then he shook the bottle so that 
he might empty it, but nothing came forth from it 
except smoke, at which he wondered exceedingly. 

After a while the smoke gathered itself together 
and became a genie, whose head was in the clouds 
while his feet rested on the ground ; his head was 
like a dome ; his hands were like pitchforks, and 
his legs like masts ; his mouth resembled a cavern ; 
his teeth were like great white stones ; his nostrils 
were like trumpets, and his eyes like lamps ; and 
he was stern and dreadful to look upon. 

When the fisherman beheld this terrible genie 
his teeth were locked together with fright, but the 
genie cried out, O Solomon, slay me not, for 
never again will I offend thee in word or deed ! ” 
" O genie,” said the fisherman, '' Solomon has 
been dead a thousand and eight hundred years, 
and we are now in the end of time. What is thy 
history and what is thy tale, and why didst thou 
ever enter this bottle ? ” 

Then said the genie : O fisherman, prepare for 
death ! Choose what kind of death thou wilt die, 
and in that manner thou shalt be killed.” 

[ 14 ] 



THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

" What is my offense ? ” asked the fisherman. 
” Why wilt thou kill me when I have just brought 
thee up from the depths of the sea ? ” 

The genie replied: '"It is not in my power to 
treat thee otherwise. Hear my story and thou 
shalt see.” 

"Tell it then,” said the fisherman, "and be 
brief in the telling, for my heart hath sunk down 
to my feet.” 

" Know then,” said the genie, " that I am one 
of those rebellious spirits that refused to submit 
to Solomon’s rule. Therefore I was chained and 
brought before him, and he ordered me to be con- 
fined in this bottle, which was straightway closed 
and stamped with his sacred seal. He then gave 
orders that I should be cast into the sea. There 
I remained a hundred years, and I said in my 
heart, 'To the man who sets me free I will give 
great riches.’ But no one came to my help. Then 
I said, 'To him who sets me free I will open all 
the secrets of the earth.’ But no one came. Four 
hundred years passed and I said, 'To him who 
sets me free I will grant every day three wishes.’ 
But still no one came. Then I fell into a rage and 
I said, ' If a man liberates me now, I will kill him, 
and I will only permit him to choose in what way 

[i6] 


THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN 

he will die.’ And lo ! thou hast set me free, and 
so thou mayst choose the manner of thy death.” 

But the fisherman cried out, Spare me and 
kill me not, for I have set thee free.” 

Did I not tell thee,” said the genie, that is 
the reason why I am about to kill thee ? ” 

But I did thee a kindness,” said the fisherman, 
and now wilt thou repay me with evil? Truly 
the old saying is right, 'We did good unto them 
and they returned unto us evil ; such is the conduct 
of the wicked.’ ” 

" Make no more words about it,” said the genie. 
" It is written that thou must die.” 

Then said the fisherman to himself : " This is a 
genie, and I am a man to whom Allah has given 
reason. Shall I not use my reason to save my 
life ? ” So he said to the genie, " Since thou art 
determined to kill me, I would ask thee one ques- 
tion. Wilt thou answer it truly? ” 

" Yes,” said the genie ; "ask, but be brief.” 

" Then,” said the fisherman, " how is it that 
thou wast able to enter that bottle? It will not 
contain thy hand or thy foot ; how then could it 
hold thy whole body ? ” 

" Dost thou not believe that I was in it ? ” asked 
the genie. 

[ 17] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

" I will never believe it,” said the fisherman, 
'' unless I see thee enter it.” 

Upon this the genie arose and became again 
converted into smoke, which rose to the sky and 
then gathered itself together, entering the bottle 
little by little until it was all inside. Instantly 
the fisherman snatched the leaden stopper and 
replaced it in the mouth of the bottle, calling out 
to the genie as he did so, " Choose now in what 
manner thou shalt die ! ” 

The genie tried to escape, but was restrained 
by the seal of Solomon. Then he said to his 
captor in a soft and humble voice, " What dost 
thou intend to do with me, O fisherman ” 

" I will throw thee into the sea,” answered the 
fisherman. 

" Set me free,” said the genie, " and I will reward 
thee greatly.” 

"There is no way of escape for thee,” said the 
fisherman. " If thou hadst been willing to spare 
me, I would spare thee; but thou wouldst have 
nothing but my death, though I had done thee 
no evil. And I would. have thee know that when 
thou art thrown back into the sea I shall warn 
all men against thee, that thou mayst remain there 
until the end of time.” 


[i8] 


THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN 

Then said the genie, I vow to thee that I will 
do unto thee no manner of harm, but will enrich 
thee forever.” 

Thus it went on between them for a long time. 
At length, having bound the genie by the most 
solemn promises, the fisherman opened the bottle. 
The smoke ascended until it had all come forth and 
then became condensed as before into the terrible 
form of the genie. Scarcely was this accomplished 
when, to the dismay of the fisherman, the genie 
kicked the bottle into the sea. 

" O genie,” said the fisherman, " do not forget 
thy promise not to act treacherously toward me ! ” 

The genie laughed and walked away, saying, 

O fisherman, follow me and all shall be well.” 

The fisherman did so, hardly believing in his 
escape, and they came to a wide desert tract, in 
the midst of which was a lake of water. Here the 
genie stopped and ordered the fisherman to cast 
his net. 

As the fisherman looked into the lake he saw 
in it fish of various colors, red and white and blue 
and yellow, at which he was astonished ; and he 
cast his net and drew it in and found in it four 
fishes, each of a different color. The genie then 
said to him : Take these to the sultan and present 

[ 19] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


them to him. He will give thee what will make 
thee a rich man. But take not fish from this lake 
more than once each day. At present I know 
no other way to reward thee, having been in the 
sea a thousand and eight hundred years and not 
having seen the surface of the earth until now.” 
Having said this, he struck the ground with his 
feet, and it clove asunder and swallowed him. 

The fisherman then went back to the city, won- 
dering at all that had befallen him, and carried 
the fish to the sultan as the genie had commanded 
him to dp. Now the sultan had never seen the 
like in the whole course of his life, and he was 
exceedingly astonished. 

" Give these fish to the cookmaid,” he said, 
"'and let her try her skill.” For the maid had 
been sent to him as a present by the king of the 
Greeks only three days before. 

Then the sultan ordered his vizier to give four 
hundred pieces of gold to the fisherman, who 
took the money and set off for home, running 
and stumbling in his joy, and thinking that he 
must be dreaming. 

In the meantime the cookmaid had cleaned the 
fish and arranged them in the frying pan. When 
one side was nicely browned and she had turned 
[ 20 ] 


THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN 


them on the other side, the wall of the kitchen 
opened, and there came forth a damsel of surpass- 
ing beauty carrying in her hand a rod of Indian 
cane. Dipping one end of the rod in the pan, 
she said, " O fish, are ye faithful ? ” 

The fish, raising their heads from the pan, re- 
plied, Yes, yes.” Then they repeated the follow- 
ing verses : 

'' Return and we return ; keep faith and so will we ; 

But if thou dost forsake, we ’ll do the same to thee.” 

Upon this the damsel overturned the frying pan 
and departed as she had entered, the wall of the 
kitchen closing behind her. The terrified cook- 
maid then examined the fish and beheld them 
burned to a crisp. As she sat reproaching her- 
self, the vizier came to her saying, '' Bring the 
fish to the sultan at once,” and she related to him 
the whole story. 

The vizier was astonished at her words and 
sent for the fisherman, saying to him, " O fisher- 
man, bring to us four fishes such as thou hast 
already brought to the sultan.” 

Accordingly, on the next morning, the fisher- 
man went to the lake and threw in his net. When 
he had drawn it in he found in it four fishes as 
[ 21 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

before, and took them to the vizier, who said to 
the cookmaid, Fry these in my presence, that 
I may witness the strange sight.” 

The maid therefore prepared the fish and placed 
them in the frying pan. Presently the wall opened, 
and the damsel appeared, holding the rod. " Fish, 
O fish,” she said, "are ye faithful?” Upon which 
they raised their heads and answered as before. 
Then the damsel overturned the pan and dis- 
appeared, the wall closing behind her. 

The vizier then said, " This cannot be concealed 
from the sultan.” So he went to the sultan and told 
him of what had happened in his presence, and the 
sultan said, " I must see that with my own eyes.” 
He sent, therefore, to the fisherman, commanding 
him to bring four more of the fishes. Again the 
fisherman went to the lake, drew in his net, and 
received four hundred pieces of gold for his fish. 

Then said the sultan to the vizier, " Cook the 
fish thyself, before me, that I may see the wonder 
of which I am told.” And the vizier answered, 
" I hear and I obey.” He brought the frying pan, 
and after he had cleaned the fish, threw them 
into it. As soon as he had turned them the wall 
opened, and there came out a huge black slave, 
bearing in his hand the branch of a green tree. 

[ 22 ] 


THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN 


'' O fish, O fish,” said the slave, are ye faith- 
ful ? ” And they raised their heads and answered 
as before : 

'' Return and we return ; keep faith and so will we ; 

But if thou dost forsake, we ’ll do the same to thee.” 


The slave then overturned the pan, the fish be- 
came like charcoal, and the wall closed upon him. 

When the slave had disappeared the sultan said: 
” This is an event about which it is impossible to 
keep silence. There is a mystery connected with 
these fish.” He then ordered the fisherman to be 
brought before him and said to him, ” Whence 
come the fish that thou hast brought us ? ” 

The fisherman answered, " From a lake that lies 
behind the mountain which is outside thy city.” 

The sultan asked, How many days’ journey 
is it?” 

” O my lord the sultan,” answered the fisherman, 
" it is a journey of but half an hour.” 

The sultan was astonished and immediately 
summoned his troops to escort him thither. They 
went on until they had climbed the mountain and 
descended again into a wide desert tract, which 
they had never seen before in all their lives. The 
sultan and his troops wondered exceedingly at the 

[23] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

lake and at the fish in it, which were of four colors 
— red and white and blue and yellow. 

Then said the sultan, " I will not sit upon my 
throne, nor will I enter my city, until I know the 
true story of this lake and of its fish.” 

He then called for his vizier and said to him: 

I have resolved to depart alone this night to seek 
out the history of this lake and of its fish. Sit 
therefore at the door of my pavilion and say to 
all who ask, * The sultan hath commanded me 
to let no one come in.’” 

The vizier being unable to persuade him to give 
up his design, the sultan disguised himself, slung 
on his sword, and departed. He journeyed two 
nights and a day and at the end of that time he 
saw in the distance a black object, which as he 
drew near proved to be a palace built of black 
marble. 

The sultan knocked gently at the door, but there 
was no response. He knocked a second and a 
third time, but still no one answered his summons. 
Then, saying to himself, 'Ht is doubtless empty,” 
he entered from the passage into the midst of a 
splendid hall. In the center was a fountain with 
four lions of red gold which poured forth clear 
streams of cool water from their mouths. Around 

[24] 


THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN 

this fountain birds were flying, and over the top 
of the palace was a net which prevented their 
escape. At the sight of all this the sultan was 
astonished, and he grieved that no person was 
there of whom he could ask concerning the lake 
and the fish and the palace itself. As he reflected 
thus he came to a curtain hanging before an open 
door. In the room within sat a handsome youth 
clad in silk embroidered with gold. The sultan 
saluted him, and the young man, who continued 
sitting, gravely returned his salutation saying, 
" O my lord, excuse my not rising to greet thee.” 

O youth,” said the sultan, tell me about this 
lake and its fish of various colors, and about this 
palace and why thou art here alone.” 

The young man made no answer, but the tears 
were in his eyes, and he sobbed bitterly. Then 
said the sultan : Why dost thou weep, O youth ? 
Tell me the cause of thy sorrow.” 

** How can I refrain from weeping?” said the 
young man. Then, stretching out his hand, he 
lifted up the skirt of his robe, and lo ! from his 
waist down to the soles of his feet he was of 
stone. 

'' Know, O king,” said he, " that my story is 
extraordinary.” And he spoke as follows: 

[25 ] 



THE KING OF THE BLACK ISLES 


’"Y FATHER was once king of the city 
that stood round about this palace. 
He was lord also of the islands that 
are now the four hills surrounding the lake. 
When I came to the throne I married my 
cousin and for a time lived with her in peace 
and happiness. One day, however, as I lay 
upon my bed with my eyes closed, I overheard 
the conversation of two slave girls who were 
fanning me. 

' How unhappy our master would be,’ said one, 
' if he knew where his wife spends her time while 
he lies sleeping here ! ’ 

Yes,’ said the other, Tut how should he know 
what she does? Every night she gives him a 
[26] 




THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN 

sleeping powder in his cup of wine, and he does 
not wake until she rouses him by burning a cer- 
tain perfume under his nostrils.’ 

" At these words I was overcome with grief and 
astonishment, but I pretended to be still asleep, 
and presently my wife came in as usual, and we 
sat down to supper. After the meal was over she 
brought me, as was her custom, a cup of spiced 
wine, which I pretended to drink. I then lay down 
as if overwhelmed with sleep, and as soon as she 
was satisfied that such was the case, she clad her- 
self in her richest clothes and made her way with 
all secrecy from the palace. 

" I followed her without her knowledge, and 
when she came to the city gates I could hear 
her muttering words that I did not understand. 
Immediately the chains fell, and the gates swung 
open of their own accord, closing again behind us 
when we had passed. We then fared forth among 
the rubbish heaps, and all unconscious of my 
presence she entered a tumbledown hut, where 
upon a heap of straw lay a huge and ugly slave. 
As soon as he saw my wife he greeted her with 
the greatest rudeness and insolence, reproaching 
her for her neglect and threatening her with his 
displeasure. It was clear to me that she was under 

[27] 



THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN 

some terrible enchantment which I could neither 
explain nor hinder. 

” When I saw her humbling herself before this 
creature and meekly enduring his reproaches, I 
fell into a blind rage and struck at him with my 
sword. Believing that I had made an end of him, 
and that I had freed my wife from his dreadful 
power over her, I now took my way back as I 
had come, before she had time to see what had 
happened. 

" I woke the next morning with a familiar smell 
of perfume in the room, and at first I was ready 
to believe that it had all been an evil dream ; but 
presently I saw that my wife’s eyes were red with 
weeping, and that her face was disfigured with grief. 
The same day at noon she came to me and said : 
* O my lord, I have had sad news. I have heard 
that my mother is dead and that my father has 
been killed in battle and that I have lost both my 
brothers, one by a snake bite and the other by a 
fall from a precipice. Permit me then to absent 
myself from the court that I may mourn for them.’ 

” This I granted her, for I hoped that she would 
now be restored to reason, and for a whole year I 
left her undisturbed. At the end of that time she 
came to me again and begged my leave to build a 

[29] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


tomb, or Temple of Lamentation, where she might 
spend her days. Willing to humor a distress of 
which I had been the cause, I said to her, ' Do as 
seems good to thee,’ and waited for her return to a 
happier state of mind. At length, when two years 
had passed, I followed her one day to her Temple 
of Lamentation. Here I discovered that the slave 
was still alive, though unable to speak, and that he 
had been carried to this spot, where she visited 
him daily. 

” No sooner did she perceive me than she 
sprang to her feet, crying out : * All this is thy 
doing ! For three years he has lain here more 
dead than alive, and now thou art delivered into 
my hand. By virtue of my powers of enchant- 
ment I bid thee become half stone and half man ! ’ 
Whereupon I was as thou seest me. Nor was she 
yet satisfied, for she went forth and changed the 
whole kingdom over which I ruled, the city be- 
coming a lake, the islands the four hills surround- 
ing it, and the people being transformed into 
fishes — the Moslems white, the Magians red, the 
Christians blue, and the Jews yellow. And now, 
having done all this, she torments me every day 
by inflicting upon me a hundred lashes with a 
heavy whip.” 


[ 30 ] 


THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN 

When the sultan heard this story he was moved 
with a desire to punish the cruel woman. " Be 
of good cheer,” he said to the young man, ” and 
endure once more the pain she causes thee, for 
if it be the will of Allah, I am about to set 
thee free.” 

So, on the next day, the sultan hid himself until 
the wicked queen had entered her husband’s pavil- 
ion. Then he arose in haste, and going to the 
tomb found the slave lying upon a couch as the 
young man had said. With a single sword-stroke 
the sultan ended that miserable existence, and hav- 
ing flung the body out into the courtyard, he lay 
down in the slave’s place. Soon the enchantress 
returned, and speaking softly to the supposed 
sufferer, she said, Hast thou still no word for 
thy servant?” 

Then the sultan said in a weak voice, Canst 
thou expect favor for what I have endured ? ” 

Overjoyed to hear her tyrant speak, but amazed 
at his words, the enchantress answered, '^Alas ! 
how have I caused thee suffering ? ” 

Then said the pretended slave : "Has not the 
curse thou hast laid upon thy husband fallen also 
upon me? Go instantly and release him from 
torment, and when that is done return hither.” 

[31 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

In fear and bewilderment the queen sped to the 
pavilion where she had left her husband, and taking 
a basin of water, she pronounced over it certain 
words that caused it to boil as if it had been set 
on a fire. Then she threw some of the water over 
him, and at once he stood upon his feet. But the 
queen said to him, ” Go hence quickly, for if thou 
delay thou shalt surely die.” 

Thankful at his release, the young king hid 
himself to await the sultan’s return, while the 
enchantress hastened to the Temple of Lamenta- 
tion. But her reward was not yet ready for her. 

" Thou hast lopped the branch,” said the voice 
from the couch, but thou hast not yet destroyed 
the root. Every night I hear the fish jumping in 
the lake that lies among the four hills, and the 
sound disturbs my rest. Go and restore all 
things to their former shape and then come back 
to me.” 

Thereupon the queen hastened to the border 
of the lake, and taking a little of the water in her 
hand, she sprinkled it this way and that, uttering 
strange words over it. Immediately where there 
had been a lake a city appeared, and instead of 
fishes there were men and women, and in place of 
the four hills, four islands. The bazaars were filled 
[32] 


THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN 

with folk who bought and sold, and each citizen 
was occupied with his own business as before. 

Then the wicked sorceress returned to the sultan. 
" Give me thy hand,” she said to him, still think- 
ing him to be the slave, "and I will help thee 
to rise.” 

" Thou must come nearer,” he answered her, 
and as she bent over him he drew his sword and 
with one blow deprived her of life. He then rose 
quickly and sought the young man, who thanked 
his deliverer with tears of gratitude. 

" Wilt thou return with me to my city,” said 
the sultan, " or wilt thou abide here ? ” 

" O king of the age,” said the youth, " dost thou 
know how far it is to thy city ? ” 

"It is a journey of two days and a half,” he 
answered. 

But the other said, " If thou art dreaming, awake ! 
It is a year’s march to thy kingdom, and thou 
earnest here in two days and a half because of 
enchantment. But be it near or far, never again 
will I leave thee so long as I live.” 

Then the sultan rejoiced and said, " Thanks be 
to Allah, who has given me a son ! ” And they 
embraced each other with great affection. In ten 
days preparations were made for the journey, and 
[ 33 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


the two kings set out with an escort of mamelukes 
carrying all manner of precious gifts and treasures. 
Nor did they stay their journeying for a full year, 
by which time they had approached the sultan’s 
capital. Then he sent on messengers to announce 
his coming, and the vizier and the whole army 
came out to meet him in joy and gladness, for 
they had given up hope of ever seeing their ruler 
again. His troops kissed the ground before him, 
and he entered the city and took his seat upon 
his throne. 

After order had been restored, the sultan said 
to the vizier, " Bring hither the fisherman who 
gave us the fishes ! ” So the vizier sent for the 
man whose gift had brought about such wonderful 
things, and when he had come into the royal pres- 
ence the sultan bestowed upon him rich rewards. 
He became one of the great men of the age, and 
his daughters were the wives of kings. The vizier 
was made king of the Black Isles, and the sultan 
and the young king spent their lives together in 
joy and delight. 


[ 34 ] 



PRINCE AGIB 


THE STORY OF THE CALENDER 

AM a king and the son of a king, and my name 
is Agib. I ruled my kingdom with justice 
Ji. and kindness. My capital city stood on the 
shore of a wide sea, and not far away were many 
small islands. Now I loved the sea and had a 
mind to visit these same islands. I therefore fitted 
out ten ships with provisions to last two months 
and set sail. We had sailed twenty days when 
one night the wind rose and the waves crashed 
together, but at daybreak the sea became calm 
and we arrived at an island where we landed 
and rested for two days. Then we set out 
again, and twenty more days went by. But now 
we found ourselves in strange waters, and the 
captain was bewildered, so we bade the watch 
look out from the masthead. 

[35 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


O captain,” said he, '' I see nothing to right or 
left except sea and ^ky, but ahead there is some- 
thing afar off that i%now black, now white.” 

Then the captain cast his turban on the deck, 
and cried, " O king, we are all dead men ! ” 

" Tell us, then, what the lookout saw,” I com- 
manded him. 

" O my lord,” he answered, " we have gone astray 
for twenty days, and there is no wind to bring us 
back upon our course. To-morrow we shall come 
to a mountain of black stone called loadstone. As 
soon as we come within a certain distance all the 
nails in the ships will fly out and fasten upon the 
mountain, for Allah has gifted the loadstone with 
a secret property which attracts all iron toward it. 
On this mountain is much iron, for many ships 
have been wrecked there. At the summit is a 
dome of brass raised on ten columns, and on the 
top of this is a horse and rider of the same metal. 
The latter holds in his hand a lance, and on his 
breast is a leaden tablet covered with names and 
talismans. It is this horseman that causes the folk 
to perish, nor will the charm be broken until he 
fall from his steed.” 

That night we had no sleep, and in the morning 
we sighted the Magnetic Mountain, toward which 
[36] 









THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

the currents carried us with irresistible force. 
When the ships came within a certain distance 
the nails in them flew toward the loadstone and 
clung to it, so that by the end of the day we were 
all struggling in the sea round the mountain. 
Some of us were saved, but most of the crews 
were drowned. As for me, I got upon a plank 
from one of the ships, and the wind driving it 
ashore, I happened on a pathway leading like a 
stair to the top of the rock. So I called upon Allah, 
whose name be exalted, and clinging fast to the 
steps reached the summit in safety. 

There I fell asleep under the dome and heard 
in a dream a voice saying to me : ” O son of Khasib, 
dig beneath thy feet and thou wilt find a bow of 
brass and three leaden arrows whereon are en- 
graved talismans. Take the bow and shoot the 
arrows at the horseman on the top of the dome; 
so shalt thou relieve mankind from a great inflic- 
tion. When thou hast shot at him he will fall into 
the sea, and the horse will drop at thy feet. Bury 
it in place of the bow, and as soon as thou hast 
done this the sea will swell and rise until it is level 
with the top of the mountain, and there will ap- 
pear upon it a boat containing a man of brass 
(different from him who fell into the sea) and he 
[38] 


PRINCE AGIB 


will come to thee with an oar in his hands. Em- 
bark with him, but beware of uttering the name of 
Allah. In ten days he will bring thee to a port of 
safety, where thou shalt find those who will carry 
thee to thine own country.” 

Awaking from my sleep, I started up to do the 
bidding of the mysterious voice. I shot one of the 
arrows at the horseman, and he fell into the sea. 
The horse dropped at my feet, and I buried it in 
the place where I had found the bow and arrows. 
Then the sea grew troubled and rose until it 
reached the top of the mountain ; nor had I long 
to wait before I saw a boat in the midst of the sea. 
When the boat came up. to me I saw in it a man 
of brass with a tablet of lead upon his breast in- 
scribed with names and talismans, and I embarked 
without saying a word. 

The boatman rowed with me for ten whole days 
and nights until I caught sight of islands and moun- 
tains and signs of safety, whereat I was rejoiced and 
cried aloud, ” There is no god but Allah.” Upon 
this the boat turned over and cast me forth into 
the sea, then righted and sank beneath the water. 

Being able to swim, I swam the whole day till 
nightfall, when my arms and shoulders were tired 
and I gave myself up for lost. Presently the sea 
[ 39 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


rose with the greatness of the wind, and a vast 
wave threw me upon the land. I clambered up 
the beach, and after I had wrung out my clothes I 
spread them upon the ground to dry. In the morn- 
ing I put on my clothes and began to look about 
me. Presently I saw a grove of trees, and when I 
had walked round it found that I was on a little 
island surrounded on all sides by the sea; upon 
which I said, ''No sooner do I escape from one 
danger than I fall into a worse.” But as I was 
thus bemoaning myself, I spied a ship afar off, 
so I climbed up into a tree and hid among the 
branches. Soon the ship came to anchor, and be- 
hold ! ten slaves landed, each bearing a spade, and 
made for the middle of the island, where they dug 
till they had uncovered and lifted a trapdoon Then 
they returned to the ship and brought thence bread 
and flour and oil and honey and cushions and car- 
pets and all else that was needed to furnish a 
dwelling, nor did they cease going back and forth 
until they had removed all that was in the ship. 

They then came out of the vessel, laden with 
clothes of the most beautiful description, and in 
their midst was a very old man, who led by the 
hand a young lad of perfect form and charming 
features. Of him the poet might have said : 

[40] 


PRINCE AGIB 


Beauty they brought to compare with him, 

But Beauty felt shame and fear. 

Said they, Hast thou ever seen his like ? ” 

Said Beauty, " He hath no peer.” 

They descended underground, where they re- 
mained for two hours or more ; then the old man 
and the slaves came up without the youth, replaced 
the trapdoor, covering it again with earth, and re- 
turned to the ship and set sail. As soon as they 
were out of sight I came down from the tree, and 
going to the place I had seen them fill up, I cleared 
away the earth and opened the wooden door, which 
was of the shape and bigness of a millstone. Be- 
neath it there appeared a winding stair, at the 
bottom of which I found a fair room wherein was 
sitting the youth, leaning upon silken cushions, 
with sweet-scented flowers and fruits before him. 

When he saw me he turned pale, but I saluted 
him, saying: "Calm thyself and fear nothing; no 
harm shall come to thee. I am a man like thyself 
and a king’s son. Tell me thy history and why 
thou dwellest underground.” 

Then he was glad, and his color came back, and 
he said : " O my brother, my story is a strange one. 
My father is a jeweler, possessed of great wealth, 
and having slaves who make trading voyages on 

[41 ] 


his account to distant countries and lands; and 
he has dealings with kings. U ntil my birth he had 
never been blessed with a child, but one night he 
dreamed that he should have a son whose life would 
be short, and he awoke grieving. When I was 
born he consulted the astrologers, who told him 
that I should live until I had reached the age of 
fifteen and that then my life would be in danger. 
They described the danger as follows : * In the Sea 
of Peril stands the Magnetic Mountain, on the sum- 
mit of which is a horseman of brass. Fifty days after 
this horseman falls from his horse thy son will die, 
and he shall be killed by Agib, son of King Khasib.’ 

” Ten days ago the news came that the horse- 
man had fallen into the sea and that he who over- 
threw him was Agib, son of Khasib. So my father 
built me this place under the earth where I might 
stay in safety until the forty days were past. This 
is my story.” 

Then I said to myself, I must be this King 
Agib of whom he speaks, but of a surety I will 
not kill him.” And I said to him, O my lord, 
if it please Allah, thou shalt be spared pain and 
death; for I will abide with thee and serve thee 
and in time I will go with thee to thy home, 
whence I may journey to my own country.” 
[42] 


PRINCE AGIB 


He rejoiced in my words, and we sat in pleasant 
talk until nightfall, when I rose and lighted a great 
wax candle and set on meat and drink and sweeh 
meats. When he lay down to sleep I covered him 
up and went to sleep myself. Next morning 
I woke him gently and brought him water to wash 
his face and food to refresh himself. Moreover, 
I made him a checkerboard that he might be 
amused. Thus I did, until the love, of him grew 
in my heart, and I said to myself, ** The astrologers 
lied ; I will never kill him.” 

Nine and thirty days had passed in this way 
when he said to me, on the morning of the fortieth : 
" O my brother, the forty days are over to-day. 
Heat me some water, I pray thee, that I may wash 
myself and put on fresh clothing.” 

With pleasure,” I answered him, and heated 
water in plenty for his use. 

Then said he, O my brother, cut me a melon 
and sweeten it well.” 

So I made haste to bring him a fine melon and 
said to him, '' Hast thou a knife ? ” 

” It is on the high shelf over my head,” he 
answered. But even as I tried to draw the knife 
from the sheath my foot slipped, and I fell heavily 
upon the youth, while the knife hastened to fulfill 
[ 43 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


that which was ordained and entered his heart. 
When I saw that he was dead I cried out in my 
sorrow, saying : Verily my life is full of misfor- 
tunes. When this young man’s father and his 
slaves see him lying there dead, they will know 
it was I who slew him and they will slay me.” 

Then I rose and ascended the stair to the sur- 
face of the earth, replacing the trapdoor and cov- 
ering it as before. And when I looked out to sea, 
lo ! a ship was drawing near the island, whereat I 
was afraid and hid myself in the top of a tall tree. 
The slaves landed with the old man, and when 
they discovered what had happened they shrieked 
aloud in their grief. They wrapped the youth in 
silken robes, and seeing that the father had fainted, 
they carried them* both to the ship and immediately 
set sail. 

I continued to live upon the island for the space 
of a month, during which time the sea was reced- 
ing from the western side of it. By the end of 
the month I was able to make my way through 
the little water that remained, to the mainland, 
where I found great heaps of sand in which even 
a camel would sink up to the knees. Afar off I 
saw somethihg shining which I took to be a fire, 
but when I drew nearer I saw that it was a 
[ 44 ] 


PRINCE AGIB 


palace with a gate of brass which gleamed and 
glistened in the sunshine. 

Hardly had I arrived at the palace gate when 
there came toward me ten young men, richly clad, 
and all blind of the right eye. With them was an 
old man, and I marveled much at their appearance. 
They saluted me and asked me my story, which I 
related from beginning to end. Then they led me 
into the palace, where I saw ten couches covered 
with a blue stuff and a smaller couch in the midst. 
Each of the young men seated himself on a couch, 
while the older man took his place in the middle. 
Then they said to me, Sit down, O youth, on the 
ground, and ask no questions as to what we do 
nor why we are all blind of one eye.” 

Presently the old man rose and brought us food 
and drink, and we sat talking of my adventures 
until the night was far spent. Then the young 
men said to the elder one, Bring us what is cus- 
tomary,” upon which he rose and brought in upon 
his head ten covered trays, one after another. He 
set a tray before each youth, and lighting ten wax 
candles, set one upon each tray. Having done this, 
he lifted the covers, and behold, beneath them 
were ashes and soot ! The young men tucked up 
their sleeves and fell to weeping and lamenting; 

[ 45 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

and they blackened their faces, exclaiming, ” We 
were seated at our ease, but our impertinent curi- 
osity would not let us rest.” Thus they continued 
to do until morning, when they washed their faces 
and put on fresh clothes. 

When I saw this I was amazed and I could not 
refrain from asking them the meaning of their 
strange behavior. " O young man,” they answered, 
" be not curious about what does not concern thee.” 
Then they slept and I slept with them. I remained 
with them for a month, and my curiosity increased 
every evening till I could neither eat nor drink. 
At last I said to them, O young men, if I may 
not know the meaning of all this, let me leave you 
and return to my own people.” 

" O youth,” they answered, " take our advice or 
thou wilt become one-eyed also.” But I still per- 
sisted in my demand, and they yielded, at length, 
saying, ” If this evil befall thee, we will never again 
receive thee into our company.” 

Then they took the skin of a dead ram and 
spread it upon the ground, and they gave me a 
knife, saying to me : ” Lie down upon the skin and 
we will sew thee up in it and leave thee and go 
away. Presently there will come to thee a bird 
called the roc, that will seize thee in its claws and 
[46] 


PRINCE AGIB 


fly with thee to a high mountain. As soon as it 
alights slit the skin with the knife and come forth, 
whereupon the bird will take fright and fly away. 
Then rise and journey for half a day till thou comest 
to a palace glittering with gold and precious stones. 
There enter, and thy case will be as ours, for we 
have all been in that place. Were we to tell thee 
our stories it would take too much time, for each 
of us lost his eye by a separate adventure.” 

Then they sewed me up in the skin and left me 
on the ground outside the palace, and the roc car- 
ried, me off to the mountain, even as they had said. 
I cut open the skin and came out, whereupon the 
bird flew away and I walked on until I reached 
the palace. The door stood open, so I entered 
and found myself in a wide hall around which were 
forty doors of sandalwood and aloe wood, plated 
with red gold and furnished with rings of silver. 
At the upper end of the room I saw forty young 
damsels, beautiful as so many moons, and they all 
came up to me, saying : Welcome, welcome ! For 
a long time we have been expecting thee. From 
to-day we are thy handmaids, so order whatever 
thou shalt desire.” 

Then they brought me food to eat and deli- 
cious sherbets to drink and they were all full of 
[ 47 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


joy at my coming. I forgot my cares, and said : 

This is indeed a delightful life. I could stay 
here forever.” 

For nearly a year I lived in this manner, but at 
the end of that time the forty damsels came to 
me in tears, bidding me farewell and clinging to 
my robe, whereat I wondered greatly. 

"What ails you?” I asked them. "You will 
break my heart if you go on in this fashion.” 

Then they answered: "We are the daughters 
of kings, and we have lived here together for a long 
time. Once in every year we are absent for forty 
days ; then we return and abide here, eating, drink- 
ing, and making merry. We are now about to 
depart and we weep because we fear that thou 
wilt disobey us in our absence and we shall never 
see thee again. If thou wilt do as we bid thee, all 
will be well. Take these keys. They open these 
forty doors, behind each of which is sufficient 
for a day’s entertainment. Thirty and nine are for 
thy pleasure, but beware lest thou open the for- 
tieth door (that which is made of red gold), for 
if this is opened, thou wilt never see us again.” 

" I will certainly not open the golden door,” 
I said to them, and they bade me farewell and 
departed, leaving me alone in the palace. 

[48] 


PRINCE AGIB 


When the evening drew near I opened the first 
door and found myself in an orchard, filled with 
blossoming trees and beautiful with birds and 
flowers. I wandered among the trees, admiring all 
these things, and when I had looked my fill I went 
out and locked the door again. The next day I 
opened the second door and found myself in a great 
hall lined with cabinets which were full of pearls 
and rubies and emeralds and all kinds of precious 
gems, such as the tongue could not describe. I was 
amazed at the sight and I said to myself, Now I 
am king of my time, for all these riches are mine.” 

So I passed nine and thirty days and I had 
opened all the doors except that which was made 
of red gold. But my thoughts were disturbed by 
curiosity, and though there was only one day more 
to wait, I could not refrain from taking out the 
forbidden key and fitting it to the golden door. 
As I opened it I was overcome by a sweet per- 
fume so that I fell down unconscious, but presently 
I came to myself and saw a place blazing with 
lamps and candles that gave out a strong fragrance. 
In the middle of the place was a horse, black as 
night, bridled with gold, and standing before two 
mangers of white crystal, one full of clean sesame 
and the other of rose water. 

[ 49 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


Then, tempted by an evil spirit, I mounted him, 
but he would not stir. I hammered his sides with 
my heels, but still he did not move, so I struck him 
with a stick. When he felt the blow he made a 
sound like the roaring of thunder, and spreading 
a pair of wings soared with me into the air far 
beyond the sight of man. After a time he set me 
down on the terrace of another palace, where he 
flung me from his back and by a violent blow 
with his tail struck out my right eye. Then he 
flew away. 

I went into the palace and found myself again 
among the ten one-eyed youths sitting upon their 
ten couches with blue covers. When they saw me 
they cried out, " Depart from us ; thou hast no 
welcome here.” And they drove me from them. 
Then I shaved my beard and eyebrows and be- 
came a calender, wandering about the world as 
you see me now. 


[ 50 ] 



THE HUNCHBACK 


r^HERE was, in ancient times, in the city of 
Balsora, a tailor who was fond of pleasure 
and merrymaking. He was in the habit of 
going forth into the city with his wife in order that 
they might amuse themselves. One day when they 
were returning home they met a cheerful little 
humpbacked man, the very sight of whom would 
make the sorrowful laugh and would drive away 
care. So they went up to him and invited him to go 
home with them to supper. He accompanied them 
to their house, whereupon the tailor went out into 
the market place and bought fried fish and bread 
and limes and sweetmeats for their evening meal. 

They had sat down to eat and were gayly talk- 
ing together, when a large, sharp fishbone stuck 
in the hunchback’s throat, and, his hour being 
come, he died. 


[ 51 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


" Alas ! poor creature,” cried the tailor, ” how 
dreadful that he should have met his death at 
our hands ! ” 

Why waste time in idle lamentations ? ” said 
his wife. Arise and take him in thine arms and 
cover his face and go out with him. I will go be- 
fore thee, and if we meet any one, thou must say: 
* This is my son, and he is ill. We are taking him 
to a doctor.’ ” 

So the tailor took the hunchback in his arms 
and followed his wife, and all who saw them said, 
" The child is ill.” 

Thus they went along inquiring for a doctor 
until they were directed to the house of a Jewish 
physician. Here they knocked, and a slave girl 
came down to ask their business. 

"'We have a sick child here,” said the tailor’s 
wife, and we wish the doctor to look at him. 
Give this quarter-dinar to thy master and ask him 
to come down at once to see our son.” 

The girl therefore went up, and the tailor’s wife 
said to her husband, Leave the hunchback here 
and let us be off ! ” 

So the tailor carried the body to the head of 
the stairs, and, propping it up against the wall, 
went softly away with his wife. Meanwhile the 
[ 52 ] 



THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


physician, thinking that he had a rich patient at 
his door, hurried down to prescribe for him. 
Hardly had he taken a step when he stumbled 
in the darkness against the body of the hunch- 
back, and it rolled to the foot of the stairs. So he 
cried out to the girl to make haste with the light, 
and when she had brought it he saw at once that 
the hunchback was dead. 

" O Esdras and Moses and Aaron and Joshua ! ” 
exclaimed the physician. I have stumbled over 
the sick person, and he has fallen downstairs, and 
now he is dead ! ” 

Then he told his wife what had happened, and 
she said to him : " Why dost thou waste time ? If 
he be found here when the sun rises, we shall 
both lose our lives. Let us carry him up to the 
roof and lower him into the house of our neigh- 
bor the Mohammedan, and so we shall be rid 
of him.” 

Now the neighbor was the sultan’s steward 
and was in the habit of bringing home great 
quantities of scraps from the sultan’s kitchen ; 
but the cats and the mice as well as the dogs 
used to devour these dainties, and thus he lost 
much of what he collected. The physician and 
his wife carried the hunchback to the roof and, 
[ 54 ] 


THE HUNCHBACK 

letting him down through the air shaft into the 
courtyard of the next house, stood him up against 
the wall and went away. Hardly had they done 
so when the steward came home, and seeing a 
man standing in the courtyard, exclaimed: ''Aha! 
have I caught thee at last? I thought the cats 
and dogs were robbing me, and all the time it 
was thou ! I will punish thee now with my own 
hand.” 

So saying, he took a great cudgel and smote 
the hunchback until he fell down. Thereupon 
the steward examined him, and finding him to 
be dead, he was filled with terror. Carrying the 
body out into the market place, he set it up in 
a dark corner against the wall of a shop and 
hurried away. 

Some time before daybreak a merchant who 
had been out all night, and who had been drink- 
ing too much wine, chanced to pass that way. 
Seeing the watchman approaching, he sought to 
hide himself in the same dark corner where the 
steward had left the hunchback. The body tum- 
bled forward upon him, and supposing himself 
to be the victim of some trick, the merchant 
clenched his fists and attacked his unknown 
assailant. 


[ 55 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

Presently the watchman came up, and finding 
that a fight seemed to be going on, he cried out. 
Come, what is the matter here ? ” 

‘'"This rude fellow tried to snatch off my tur- 
ban,” answered the merchant, and the watchman 
said, Get up from him.” 

So the merchant rose, and the watchman, see- 
ing that the hunchback was dead, exclaimed, 'Mt 
is a fine thing that a Christian should kill a Mus- 
sulman ! ” And he seized the merchant and car- 
ried him to the house of the judge, where they 
passed the remainder of the night. 

As soon as it was fairly day the judge came 
out, and when he saw the dead hunchback he 
commanded that the supposed murderer should 
be hanged at once. So they set up a gallows, 
and the hangman put a rope about the mer- 
chant’s neck and was about to hoist him up 
when behold ! the sultan’s steward, who was pass- 
ing by, saw the crowd and cried out to the 
executioner : ” Stop ! stop ! it was I who killed 
the hunchback.” 

” How was that ? ” asked the judge. 

I came home last night,” answered the stew- 
ard, and found a man who had come down 
the air shaft to steal my goods, so I struck him 
[ 56 ] 


THE HUNCHBACK 


with a cudgel and he died. Then I carried him 
into the market place and set him up against 
the wall. Is it not enough for me to have killed 
a Mussulman, without having the death of a 
Christian also on my conscience ? ” 

When the judge heard this he said to the ex- 
ecutioner, Let the merchant go, and hang this 
man on his own confession.” 

So the rope was placed around the steward’s 
neck, and they were about to hang him when be- 
hold ! the physician pushed his way to the gallows 
and cried out : " Stop ! it was I and no one else 
who killed the hunchback. I was sitting at home 
last night when a man and a woman knocked at 
the door and gave my servant a quarter-dinar, 
saying that they had with them a sick child and 
bidding her ask me to come down and see him. 
While she was gone they brought the hunchback 
into the house and left him at the top of the 
stairs. When presently I came out in the dark I 
stumbled over him, and he fell to the foot of the 
stairs. As soon as I found that he was dead I 
carried him upstairs and lowered him through the 
air shaft into the house of this steward, which is 
next to my own. When he came home he took 
the figure for a robber and beat the hunchback 
[ 57 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


until he fell to the ground. Is it not enough that 
I should have killed one man by accident, without 
taking the death of another upon my conscience ? ” 

When the judge heard the physician’s story 
he said to the hangman, Let the steward go 
and hang this man.” 

So the hangman took the physician and was 
putting the rope around his neck when behold ! 
the tailor pressed through the folk and cried out 
to him : '' Hold thy hand ! I was the one who 
killed him, and it fell out thus : I met this hunch- 
back last evening and asked him to eat supper at 
my house. A piece of fish stuck in his throat and 
choked him so that he died at once. We lifted 
him up, my wife and I, and carried him to the 
house of this physician, where I left him at the 
top of the stairs. When the physician came out 
he stumbled over him and thought that he had 
killed him.” Then he said to the Jew, Is not 
this the truth?” "It is,” said the physician. And 
the tailor said to the executioner, " Then let the 
Jew go, and hang me.” 

So the hangman took the tailor and put the 
rope about his neck, saying, " I am tired of taking 
this man and freeing that, and no one hanged 
after all ! ” 


[ 58 ] 



THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


Now the hunchback was the favorite jester of 
the sultan, who could not bear to have him out of 
his sight. So when the jester did not make his 
appearance, the sultan asked one of the courtiers 
about him. 

O my lord,” said the man, "the judge found 
him dead and ordered his murderer to be hanged ; 
but as the hangman was about to obey there 
came a second and a third and a fourth man, 
each declaring himself to be the murderer, and 
telling the judge how the crime was com- 
mitted.” 

When the sultan heard this he said to one of 
his chamberlains, " Go down to the judge and 
bring me all four of them.” 

So the chamberlain went down to the place of 
execution, where he found the hangman on the 
point of hanging the tailor and cried out to him 
to stop. Then he gave the sultan’s order to the 
judge, who took the tailor, the physician, the 
steward, and the merchant and brought them all, 
together with the dead hunchback, before his 
master. When he came into the royal pres- 
ence he kissed the earth and related all that had 
passed, at which the sultan was moved to mirth 
and amazement and commanded the story to be 
[60] 


THE HUNCHBACK 


written in letters of gold, saying to the courtiers, 
” Did any one ever hear a more wonderful story 
than this of the hunchback ? ” 

With that the merchant came forward and said, 
” O king of the age, with thy leave I will tell thee 
a thing that happened to myself, which is even 
stranger than the story of the hunchback.” 

” Let us hear it,” said the sultan. 

Each of the four prisoners, hoping to save his life by pleas- 
ing the sultan, now tells some strange adventure. The first 
three tales fail to win the royal approval. When it is the tailor’s 
turn the sultan promises to pardon all the culprits if his story is 
more entertaining than that of the hunchback. The tailor pro- 
ceeds to relate his experience with an absurdly talkative barber, 
who, in answer to his customer’s impatient protests, replied : 
" What dost thou want ? Here Allah hath given thee a barber 
who is familiar with astrology, white magic, syntax, gram- 
mar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic, algebra, astronomy, and elocu- 
tion, besides theology and geometry. Why art thou in such 
haste to be shaved ? ” 

" When I heard the man’s flow of speech,” the tailor goes on 
to the sultan, '' I said to him, ' Thou wilt surely be my death 
this day.’ ' O my master,’ he answered, ' I am called The Silent 
One, by reason of my few words and to distinguish me from my 
six brothers who are forever chattering. And truly I am con- 
cerned because thou art in such a hurry.’ ’* 

The barber’s stories of himself and of each of his six brothers 
are retold to the sultan by the tailor. The two following are 
the most famous. 


[6i] 



ALNASCHAR 

THE STORY OF THE BARBER’S FIFTH BROTHER 

M y brother Alnaschar, O Commander 
of the Faithful, was a poor man who 
used to beg alms. Our father fell sick 
and died, leaving to each of us a hundred pieces 
of silver. My fifth brother was at a loss what 
to do with his share till he bethought him to 
buy glass of all sorts and sell it at a profit. So 
he bought glass with his hundred pieces of silver, 
put it into a great basket, and sat down upon a 
bench, leaning his back against a wall. 

As he sat waiting for a customer, he fell to 
musing and said to himself: "Verily my whole 
fortune now consists of this glass. I will sell it 
for two hundred pieces of silver, and with that 
[62] 



THE HUNCHBACK 


I will buy other glass which I will sell for four hun- 
dred. I will go on buying and selling in this way 
until I have gained great wealth. Then I will buy 
all kinds of merchandise and jewels and make 
great profit upon them. I will buy a house, together 
with slaves and horses and gilded saddles, and I 
will eat and drink and listen to music all day long. 

Then,” he went on, I will seek the hand of 
the vizier’s daughter, for I hear that she is of great 
beauty and surpasses all others in grace. I will 
give her a thousand pieces of gold for a dowry. 
If her father consents, it will be well ; if not, it will 
make no difference, as I shall take her by force. 
Every day I shall ride upon my horse, with slaves 
behind and before me, while the people call down 
blessings upon my head. Then I will pay a visit 
to the vizier, and he will rise and seat me with 
all respect in his own place. I will order one of 
my servants to give him the purse containing the 
dowry and I will add to it another purse that he 
may know how generous and noble I am and how 
little is the world in my eyes. And when he ad- 
dresses me in ten words, I will answer him in two. 

" On the night of my wedding I will wear my 
richest robes, and when my wife is brought before 
me, I, because of my pride and my disdain, will 

[63] 



TVib-vWfnc.t\Wr 



THE HUNCHBACK 

not look at her till her maids shall say : ' O my 
lord, thy wife stands before thee. Deign then to 
look upon her.’ Upon this I will raise my head 
and cast only one glance upon her, because of the 
haughtiness of my mind and the gravity of my 
understanding. This will I do until the ceremony 
of displaying her is finished. 

Then her mother will say to me, * O my lord, 
look upon thy handmaid and be gracious to her,’ 
and my wife will bring me a cup of wine, but I will 
leave her standing before me while I recline upon 
a cushion of cloth of gold. Then she will urge me 
and put the cup to my lips, but I shall spurn her 
with my foot, thus — ” 

So saying, he gave a kick with his foot and 
knocked over the basket of glass, which fell heavily 
to the ground, so that all that was in it was broken. 

The folk who were going by saw him weeping 
and tearing his clothes in his despair. Some pitied 
him ; some paid no heed to him. One beautiful 
lady gave him a purse wherein were five hundred 
pieces of silver, and for a time he was a contented 
man. But Allah himself cannot help a fool ! In the 
end thieves fell upon him and beat him, and I, 
hearing of his distress, have brought him back to 
the city and have given him a small allowance. 
[bS] 



THE BARMECIDE’S FEAST 
THE STORY OF THE BARBER’S SIXTH BROTHER 

M y brother Shacabac, O Commander 
of the Faithful, was once a rich man, 
but he became so poor that he was 
reduced to beggary. One day he went forth 
as usual to seek alms, and on his way he beheld 
a handsome house, with serv^ants standing at the 
door commanding and forbidding. So he came 
up to the doorkeepers and begged them to give 
him something. 

" Enter,” said one of them to him, and thou 
shalt get whatever thou hast need of from our 
master himself.” 

Thus encouraged, my brother entered the palace 
and found himself in a magnificent hall, paved 
with marble and hung with curtains. At the upper 
end of a room which opened into this hall sat 
[ 66 ] 


THE HUNCHBACK 


an old man with a long white beard. Seeing my 
brother, the Barmecide rose, greeted him kindly, 
and asked him what he could do to serve him ; 
to which my brother replied that he was sorely 
in need of food. 

What ! ” cried the old man, '' art thou actu- 
ally hungry ? Thou shalt eat with me. I will have 
food brought in at once. Ho, boy! bring us water 
that we may wash our hands, and order supper 
immediately.” 

Shacabac was about to express his gratitude for 
this friendly reception, when the old man began 
to rub his hands together as if he were washing 
them. No boy appeared, nor was there either basin 
or water, yet my brother felt that he must do as 
his host did, for the sake of courtesy. 

'' Come,” said the Barmecide, '' thou art surely 
famished.” And though nothing had been brought 
in, he pretended to eat as if food had been set 
before him. 

Eat, my friend,” he went on ; there is no need 
to feel shame, for I have known what it is to be 
hungry myself.” 

So my brother made all the motions of eating 
and drinking, while his host called for dish after 
dish which did not appear. " Ho, boy I ” he would 
[ 67 ] 





m 



THE HUNCHBACK 


cry, ” bring us mutton and barley broth, unless my 
guest prefers some of the goose with the sweet 
sauce. Come, taste of these chickens stuffed with 
pistachio nuts. Hast thou ever tasted any like 
them ? ” 

" Never,” protested my brother, who was fainting 
with hunger. Never have I eaten anything so 
delicious,” and he pretended to feast heartily on 
the invisible dainties. 

Then the Barmecide named other dishes, and 
my brother did not fail to praise them warmly, 
until at length he declared he could eat no more. * 

” But,” cried the Barmecide, '' thou hast had no 
sweets! Try one of these delicious fritters before 
the sirup runs out of it.” And he went on urging 
upon his guest all manner of fruits and sweetmeats. 

At last Shacabac became weary of the jest and 
said to himself, I will make him sorry for having 
fooled me thus.” Accordingly, when the boy was 
ordered to bring in wine my brother said, " O my 
master, I must drink no wine with thee. Surely 
it is forbidden.” 

” Keep me company in a single glass,” said the 
Barmecide, and my brother bowed low as if he 
would drink to the health of his host. But even 
as the old man lifted the invisible glass a second 

[69] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


time to his lips my brother struck him such a 
blow that the room rang with it. 

What does this mean ? ” cried the Barmecide, 
trembling with rage. 

” O my lord,” said my brother, " thou hast given 
me too much of that rare old wine. See, it has 
taken away my wits and has made me behave 
like a madman.” 

Then the Barmecide laughed very heartily and 
said : Long have I made game of men, but thou 
art the first I have seen who could endure this 
* trick. Now, therefore, I pardon thee for thy rude- 
ness, and thou shalt eat with me in good earnest.” 

So saying, he clapped his hands, and the serv- 
ants brought in a delicious supper, including all 
the eatables that had been mentioned by the Bar- 
mecide. My brother continued to make himself 
so agreeable to his host that he became his close 
friend and companion, and they lived together 
for a period of twenty years. At the end of this 
time the rich man died, and my brother was forced 
to depart from the city. 

When the sultan heard the tailor’s story he said, 
'' This is indeed more pleasant and wonderful than 
the story of the hunchback.” Then he bade the 
[ 70 ] 


THE HUNCHBACK 


chamberlain go with the tailor to fetch the barber, 
saying, Bring him to me that I may hear his talk, 
and perchance it shall be the means of releasing 
all of you.” 

So the chamberlain and the tailor went away 
and presently returned with the barber. The sultan 
looked at him, and behold ! he was a very old man, 
more than ninety years of age, vain and silly in 
his appearance. The sultan laughed at his com- 
placent looks, and said to him, O silent man, 
I desire thee to tell me something of thy history.” 

" King of the age,” replied the barber, ” why 
are all these men and this dead hunchback here 
before thee ? ” 

So the sultan said to one of his courtiers, 
'' Explain the hunchback’s case to him, and repeat 
the stories told by the physician, the steward, the 
merchant, and the tailor.” 

When this had been done, the barber exclaimed, 
” It is indeed a wonder of wonders.” Then he 
said, Let me look at the body of the hunchback.” 

They did so, and he laughed until he fell back- 
ward. At this the sultan wondered, and said to 
him, " O silent man, explain thy laughter to us.” 

O king of the age,” replied the barber, " there 
is yet life in thy jester.” 

[71] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


Then he pulled out a pot of ointment from his 
girdle and anointed the neck of the hunchback, 
after which he thrust a pair of tweezers down the 
little man’s throat and drew out the fishbone. 
Thereupon the hunchback sat up and sneezed, and 
everybody present exclaimed in amazement. 

Then said the sultan, This is the most wonder- 
ful thing that I ever saw, for verily, if it had not 
been for this barber, the hunchback would never 
have come to life.” 

Then the sultan caused the whole story to be 
recorded and placed in the royal treasury, after 
which he bestowed splendid presents upon the 
physician, the merchant, and the steward. He gave 
the tailor costly gifts and appointed him to be his 
own tailor, with a suitable salary. As for the barber, 
he was made the court barber and became one of 
the sultan’s constant companions. And they all 
lived in the utmost happiness and comfort until 
they were visited by the destroyer of delights and 
the separator of companions. 


[ 72 ] 



THE THREE APPLES 

O NE NIGHT the caliph Haroun al-Raschid 
summoned his vizier Jaafar and said to 
him : I desire to go down into the city 
and ask the common folk about the conduct of 
my officers of justice. If any are complained of, 
we will discharge them; those who are praised 
shall be rewarded.” 

” I hear and I obey,” said Jaafar. 

So the caliph went with his vizier and Mesrour, 
his executioner, into the town and walked about 
the streets. Coming into a small passageway they 
saw in the moonlight a tall man who was carrying 
some nets upon his head. He had on his arm a 
basket made of palm leaves and in his hand a stick. 

This seems to be a poor man,” said the caliph. 
" Let us speak to him.” 

[ 73 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

So the vizier went up to the man, and said to 
him, What is thine occupation ? ” 

And the man said : " O, my lord, I am a fisher- 
man, but a most unhappy one. I went out at noon, 
and from that time until now I have not taken a 
single fish.” 

" Come back with us,” said the caliph, ” and 
cast in thy net once more. We will give thee a 
hundred pieces of gold for whatever thou shalt 
catch.” 

The fisherman rejoiced when he heard this, and 
went back with them toward the river, saying to 
himself, '' If they give me only a hundredth part 
of what they promise me, it will still be a great 
sum.” 

When they arrived at the river he threw in his 
net and drew out a chest, very heavy and securely 
fastened. The caliph immediately gave the fisher- 
man his hundred pieces of gold and sent him away. 
Mesrour took the chest on his shoulders, and in 
much impatience to examine it the caliph and his 
officers returned to the palace. When they opened 
the box they saw with horror that it contained the 
body of a young woman. 

Alas ! ” cried the caliph. Is this the way my 
city is guarded.^ O wretched Jaafar, shall folk be 
[ 74 ] 








THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

murdered and cast into the river? If thou dost 
not discover him who killed her, I will hang thee 
at the gate of my palace with forty of thy kindred 
beside thee.” And the caliph was filled with 
exceeding rage. 

O Commander of the Faithful,” said Jaafar, 
'' grant me time to make a search.” 

” I give thee three days,” said the caliph. Look 
to thy safety ! ” 

The vizier returned to his house, saying : " How 
shall I, in this great city, find him who murdered 
the damsel ? If I bring in other than the murderer, 
it will be a sin. Verily I know not what to do.” 

For three days his search was vain. At the end 
of that time the caliph bade a crier go through the 
streets of Bagdad, crying, Whoever would see 
the hanging of Jaafar and forty more of the 
Barmecides, let him come and look ! ” 

Then the gallows was set up, and Jaafar and 
the others stood near by in readiness for execu- 
tion; but while the spectators wept, behold, a 
young man appeared among them and cried: 
" O my lord, I am the man who killed the woman 
that was found in the chest. Hang me ! ” 

While he was yet talking, another man made 
his way through the crowd and cried : O believe 
[76] 


THE THREE APPLES 


not the words of this youth! It was I who killed 
the damsel.” 

The vizier marveled much at all this and greatly 
rejoiced at his own deliverance. He ordered the 
two men to be carried before the caliph, and after 
kissing the ground between his hands seven times, 
he said, O Commander of the Faithful, I bring 
thee the murderer of the damsel.” 

"'Where is he?” said the caliph. And Jaafar 
answered : " This young man says, " I am the 
murderer,’ and this old man says, " I am the mur- 
derer,’ and lo I here are both of them standing 
before thee.” 

" I am the one who killed her,” said the young 
man. But the old man protested, " I am the one 
who killed her.” 

Then said the caliph, "Take both of them out 
and hang them.” 

" But,” said Jaafar, "one only is the murderer, 
and it would be a sin to hang the other.” 

" Listen, O my lord,” said the young man. " I 
am he who killed her and I will tell thee what led 
me to commit this crime. Know, O Commander 
of the Faithful, that the woman was my wife and 
the daughter of this old man, who is my uncle, 
and we both loved her. 

[ 77 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

” She fell ill of a grievous sickness, and I called 
in physicians, but she grew no better. And at last 
she said, ' There is something I long for. ’ 

"'^To hear is to comply,’ I said. 'What is thy 
longing ? ’ 

" And she said, ' I wish I had an apple.’ 

" Then I said, ' Hadst thou a thousand wishes 
I would try to gratify them.’ So I went out into 
the city and sought for apples, but could find none. 
If they had cost a gold piece each, I would have 
bought them could I have found any, but I 
searched in vain until night. When morning 
dawned I went out again, for my wife was dis- 
appointed, and I was vexed because I could not 
fetch her that for which she longed. 

" At length I went to an old gardener, who said : 
' O my son, what thou art seeking is not now to 
be found. The only apples are in the caliph’s 
garden at Balsora.’ 

" So I undertook the long journey and traveled 
fifteen days and nights to bring my wife three 
apples, for which I paid three dinars. But she took 
no pleasure in them after all and let them lie by 
her side, so that my labor counted for naught. 

" Her illness lasted ten days longer, after which 
she began to mend and soon recovered her health. 

[ 78 ] 



THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


So I went back to my shop and sat there buying 
and selling. And about noon that very day a 
tall, ugly, black slave passed by my door, holding 
in his hand one of the three apples. 

" ' O my good slave,’ I said to him, ' tell me 
where thou didst find an apple at this time of year.’ 

'"He laughed and said : ' It was given to me by 
a lady. I found her lying ill, and she said, ” My 
foolish husband made a journey to Balsora for 
these apples and paid three dinars for them.” So 
she gave one to me, and I came away.’ 

When I heard these words the world grew 
black, and I went home in a rage. I looked for the 
apples, and finding only two, I said, ' O my wife, 
what has become of the third apple ? ’ And she 
answered coldly, ' I know not where it is gone.’ 
Then I was convinced that the slave had spoken 
the truth, and I was so angered that I cut her 
throat. I put her body into a chest and fastened 
it close and threw it into the river with my own 
hands. Therefore, O Commander of the Faithful, 
make haste to hang me. For when I had thrown 
the chest into the river and none knew what I had 
done, I went back and found my eldest son crying. 
I asked him, ' What makes thee weep, my son ? ’ 
And he answered, ' O my father, I took one of the 
[80] 


THE THREE APPLES 


three apples which my mothei; had, and while I 
held it in my hand in the street a great, ugly, black 
slave snatched it from me, saying, Where did this 
come from ? ” And I said, My father traveled 
to Balsora, where he bought it and two other apples 
for my mother, who is ill, and he paid three dinars 
for them.” I asked for the apple a second and a 
third time, but he kicked and cuffed me and went 
off with it.’ 

” When I heard what my son said I wept bit- 
terly, and when my wife’s father came in I told 
him what had happened, and we grieved together.” 

The caliph marveled at this story and said : 
'' The young man is pardoned. I will hang none 
but the slave. Bring him before me within three 
days, O Jaafar, or I will hang thee in his place.” 

So Jaafar went forth from the palace, saying: 
"No pitcher comes forth from the well forever 
unbroken. Alas ! my hour is come. It is useless 
to look for the slave. I will not leave my house 
again, and may the will of Allah be done ! ” 

On the third day the vizier prepared to present 
himself to the caliph, and bade his children a last 
farewell. As he pressed his youngest daughter in 
his arms he felt something hard and round inside 
her dress. 

[8i] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

O my little maid,” he said to her, " what hast 
thou in thy dress ? ” 

'' O my father,” she answered, " it is an apple 
with the name of the caliph on it. Rahan, our slave, 
showed it to me four days ago and would not let 
me have it until I had given him two dinars for it” 

Then Jaafar sent for the slave Rahan, and said 
to him, Where didst thou get this apple ? ” 

" O my master,” said the slave, '' I was walking 
in the city and saw the apple in the hands of a 
child at play. I snatched it from him, and my little 
lady bought it of me for two dinars of gold. And 
that is the whole story.” 

Now when Jaafar heard this he led the slave 
into the presence of the caliph. When the story 
was told, the vizier said, O Commander of the 
Faithful, wonder not at this story, for it is not more 
marvelous than the tale of Noureddin Ali of Cairo 
and his son Bedreddin Hassan.” 

” Tell it then,” said the caliph. And Jaafar 
answered, I will tell it, O my lord, on condition 
that thou wilt pardon my slave.” 

If it be indeed more wonderful than the story 
of the three apples, I grant thee thy slave’s life,” 
said the caliph. 

So Jaafar began his story in these words: 

[82] 



NOUREDDIN ALI AND BEDREDDIN HASSAN 
PART I 

II ^HERE once lived in Cairo a vizier who 
was a man of great wisdom and who pos- 
AL sessed much knowledge of the ways of the 
world. This minister had two sons, the younger 
of whom, Noureddin, was so handsome that the 
fame of his beauty spread through all the country 
and people traveled to Cairo to obtain a glimpse 
of him. 

Now it happened that when the vizier died the 
sultan selected the two sons to fill their father’s 
place. They entered together into the office of 
vizier, each of them serving for a week at a time, 
and whenever the sultan went forth on a journey 
he took one of them with him. 

One evening as the brothers were talking to- 
gether, Shemseddin, the elder, said, O my brother, 
[ 83 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


if I should ever have a daughter and thou a son, 
let us give them to each other in marriage.” 

'^Agreed!” said Noureddin. "'What dowry 
shalt thou ask for thy daughter ? ” 

'' Three thousand pieces of gold,” answered 
Shemseddin, ” and three gardens and three farms 
besides.” 

Then said Noureddin: "'Are we not brothers 
and of equal rank ? Thy daughter should be a free 
gift to my son, for thou knowest very well that a 
man is higher in rank than a woman.” 

'' Thou art wholly wrong,” answered Shemsed- 
din, angrily. Since that is thy feeling, I will not 
consent to marry my daughter to thy son.” 

" Nor will I marry my son to thy daughter on 
any terms,” said Noureddin. 

In the morning the sultan set out on a journey 
to the Pyramids, taking with him Shemseddin, 
while the younger brother, who was still very 
angry, mounted his best mule and departed from 
the city in another direction. He was resolved to 
give up his office and leave the country, and though 
he knew not where to go, he rode on for several 
days until he came to the city of Balsora. 

Now it happened that the vizier of that city, 
who was an old man, felt a strong affection for 

[84] 








THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

the handsome stranger as soon as his eyes fell 
upon him. '' O my son,” he said to him, whence 
art thou come and for what purpose ? ” 

” My lord,” answered Noureddin, " I am come 
from Cairo, where my father was once vizier, and I 
have determined that I will not return until I have 
seen all the cities and countries of the world.” 

" Follow not the suggestion of that thought,” 
said the vizier, "lest thou come to destruction. 
Come with me to my house, where thou shalt be 
treated with honor and kindness. I am an old 
man and I have no son. Thou shalt be as a son 
to me, and I will say to my master, the sultan of 
Balsora, ' This is the son of my brother, who is a 
vizier in the land of Egypt.’ ” 

Noureddin answered, " I hear and I obey.” 
Then the vizier showed him all honor and treated 
him as his son and gave him his daughter for a 
wife. Thus did it happen to Noureddin. 

As for his brother, he returned from his journey 
with the sultan and was greatly troubled to hear 
of Noureddin’s absence. He grieved exceedingly, 
saying to himself : " I have angered my brother by 
what I said concerning the marriage of our chil- 
dren. Would that I had not done so ! I am indeed 
lacking in sense and judgment.” 

[ 86 ] 


THE THREE APPLES 

Not long after this, Shemseddin married the 
daughter of a merchant of Cairo and in time gave 
up all hope of seeing his beloved brother. And it 
so fell out that a daughter was born to him on the 
same day that, in Balsora, Noureddin’s heart was 
gladdened by the coming of a son. This boy was 
as beautiful as the dawn, and on the seventh day 
after his birth they made a feast such as would be 
fit for the sons of kings ; after which the vizier of 
Balsora took Noureddin with him and went up to 
the sultan. 

The sultan treated them with kindness, and 
said to the vizier, ” Who is this young man ? ” 

'' This is the son of my brother,” answered the 
vizier. ” He is young and I am now old; my hear- 
ing is dull, and my sight is failing. It is my wish, 
therefore, that our lord the sultan will make him 
vizier in my place, seeing that he is the husband 
of my daughter and a person of knowledge and 
judgment.” 

Upon this the sultan looked at the young man 
and approved of the advice. He ordered that a 
magnificent dress of honor should be given to the 
new vizier, and one of the best of the mules upon 
which he himself was accustomed to ride. And 
Noureddin kissed the hand of the sultan and went 
[ 87 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


down with his father-in-law to their home, both in 
high delight. On the following day he sat in the 
place of the vizier and examined the cases of the 
people; and the sultan was surprised at his wise con- 
duct and at his understanding and judgment 

While Noureddin was occupied with the affairs 
of his new office, the old vizier devoted himself to 
his grandson, who was named Bedreddin. The 
child was well taught and grew up to be a youth 
of surpassing beauty and grace. The sultan him- 
self noticed his vizier’s handsome son and de- 
manded that the lad should be brought to the 
court every day. Noureddin answered, " I hear 
and I obey,” and until the boy was twenty years 
old he went up daily with his father to the sultan. 

Bedreddin had scarcely reached manhood when 
one day his father fell sick. Calling his son to him, 
he said : " O my son, hear my words ! I have a 
brother in Cairo, from whom I departed against 
his will.” And his tears flowed as he spoke. He 
then wrote upon a sheet of paper all that had 
happened to him, and giving it to his son said to 
him : " Keep this safe, for it contains an account of 
thine origin and rank. If any evil befall thee, seek 
thine uncle in Cairo and inform him that I died 
in a strange land, greatly desiring to see him.” 

[ 88 ] 


THE THREE APPLES 

Then he added: ” Be not familiar with any one, use 
not many words, and beware of drinking wine, for 
it is the source of every mischief. Hate no man 
and oppress none.” In this manner he continued 
to advise Bedreddin until his spirit fled. For two 
months the young man mourned his father, nor 
would he go up to the sultan in all that time. 

Then the sultan was angry and appointed a 
new vizier and sent him to bring Bedreddin to 
the court a prisoner. But there was among the 
troops one of Noureddin’s former slaves, and he 
would not endure to have his masters son so 
treated. He therefore sought out Bedreddin and 
begged him to flee for his life. And even as the 
slave spoke, the young man heard the people of the 
city mourning that he must die. So when he heard 
what they were saying, he went away from that 
place and journeyed until he came to his father’s 
tomb, where, overcome with fatigue, he fell asleep. 

Now the burial ground was inhabited during 
the day by genii, one of whom, coming forth 
toward nightfall, saw the young man as he lay 
asleep and was astonished at his beauty. The 
genie had scarce begun his usual nightly journey 
when he met a fairy, whom he greeted, saying, 
" Whence comest thou ? ” 

[89] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


From Cairo,” she answered. 

" Wilt thou go with me,” he asked her, " to see 
a beautiful youth asleep in the burial ground ? ” 
And she answered, ” Yes.” 

So they went together to the tomb and looked 
upon the face of the young man who still lay 
asleep. 

” Tell me,” said the genie, ” hast thou ever seen, 
in the course of thy life, a person so beautiful as 
this ? ” 

" O genie,” said the fairy, " I have seen a person 
who resembles this youth, in the land of Egypt. 
She is the daughter of the vizier, and the king 
demanded her in marriage, but her father would 
marry her only to the son of his brother Noured- 
din. ' O my lord the sultan,’ he said, ' accept my 
excuse and pity my grief, for thou knowest that 
my brother departed from us, and we know not 
where he is. The cause of his going away was his 
anger with me, and I have given my word not to 
marry my daughter to any but his son.’ 

” When the sultan heard this he was very angry, 
and said : ' When such as I would marry the daugh- 
ter of such as thou, no idle excuse is to be offered, 
As I live, I will marry her to the meanest of my 
grooms in spite of thee.’ 

[90] 


THE THREE APPLES 

"Now the sultan has a worthless groom — 
misshapen, and ugly to look upon — and he 
has ordered him to be brought, and this very 
night he is to marry the viziers daughter. She 
sits weeping in the midst of her women, and O 
genie, she is even more beautiful than this youth 
of thine.” 

To this story the genie answered: "Thou art 
mistaken. None could be more beautiful than he.” 

Then said the fairy, " O my brother, let us lift 
him in our arms and carry him to the maiden I 
spoke of, that we may see which of the two is 
the more beautiful.” 

The genie answered : " I hear and I obey. There 
can be no better way than this; therefore I will 
carry him.” 

So he lifted up the young man and soared into 
the sky, and the fairy flew beside him until he 
reached the city of Cairo. There he set down the 
youth upon a bench and roused him from his sleep. 

When Bedreddin awoke and found that he was 
not in the city of Balsora, he would have cried out, 
but the genie said to him: " Know that I have 
brought thee to Cairo to do thee a service. Take 
therefore this candle and go with yonder wedding 
quests to the bride’s house. Whenever the bride’s 

[91 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

women come to thee, put thy hand in thy pocket 
and give them a handful of gold. Fear not that 
thou wilt find thy pocket empty. Give, therefore, 
to every one who shall approach thee, and when 
the bride herself shall come, say to her, ' I am thy 
husband ; it is the order of the sultan.’ 

On hearing these words Bedreddin said, ” What 
is the meaning of this ? ” But he went with his 
candle to join the bridal train, and every time the 
singing-women stopped for people to give them 
money he threw handfuls of gold into their tam- 
bourines ; and all the people were amazed at his 
beauty and his riches. 

When they arrived at the vizier’s house the 
women made way for him, saying, ''We will not 
enter without this youth, for he hath overwhelmed 
us with his favors.” And though the ugly groom 
was angry, no one paid attention to his words. 

At length the daughter of the vizier approached 
in the midst of her singing-women and her maids, 
like the moon shining among stars in a clear 
night. Seeing Bedreddin, she went and stood 
before him, while the miserable groom was left 
alone looking like an ape. Raising her face toward 
heaven, she said, " O Allah, make this youth to be 
my husband ! ” And he said, " I am he ; it is the 
[92] 


THE THREE APPLES 


order of the sultan.” Then her maids dressed her 
in different dresses to display her beauty, and 
finally led her away, followed by the enraptured 
Bedreddin, while the detested groom was left 
alone in the outer hall. 

Not long after this the genie said to the fairy. 
Arise, and let us carry back the youth lest 
morning overtake us.” So they flew away with 
Bedreddin as he lay sleeping, and laid him down 
by one of the gates of Damascus, even as destiny 
had appointed. 

When daylight came and the gates were opened 
for the people to go forth, they beheld a beautiful 
youth asleep in his night clothes and without his 
turban. And while they wondered at his presence 
there, Bedreddin awoke. 

Where am I, good people } ” he cried, greatly 
astonished. " Why do you crowd about me, and 
what has happened that I am lying here at this 
gate without my robe and my turban } ” 

They answered: We found thee lying here 
asleep. Where, then, didst thou spend the night 1 ” 
“Truly, I lay down to sleep in Cairo,” he replied, 
“ but the day before I was in the city of Balsora. 
Only last night I was married to the most beautiful 
lady in the world.” 


[ 93 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


'*The youth is mad,” said the people to one 
another. 

” Come,” they said to him, " come to thy senses. 
Thou hast been dreaming.” 

Bedreddin shook his head. 

''It was not a dream,” he said. " And if so, 
where are my robe and my turban ? ” 

But the crowd laughed at him and followed at 
his heels when he went into the city, so that he 
was grateful for the protection of a friendly pastry 
cook, who sent away the curious folk and took the 
young man to his own home. 

When Bedreddin had related all that had hap- 
pened, the cook said : " O my master, this is a 
strange tale, and few there are who will believe 
it. Stay then with me for a while. I will adopt 
thee as my son, for already thou art dear to me, 
and in time fortune may favor thee.” 

" Let it be so,” said Bedreddin. " I consent.” 

Then his protector went forth and bought costly 
robes and made a public statement that he had 
adopted Bedreddin, so that the young man became 
known throughout Damascus as the son of the 
pastry cook. He sat in the shop and received the 
money, and when the old man died, continued to 
follow the same trade. 


[ 94 ] 






THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


In the meantime Bedreddin’s bride, the Lady 
of Beauty,” was greatly troubled and distressed by 
the disappearance of her husband. All Cairo was 
searched to find some trace of him. Shemseddin 
and his daughter took frequent counsel together 
as to the means by which Bedreddin might be 
restored to her. They examined first the turban 
and the clothes that they found in his bedroom. 

" This is such a turban as is worn by viziers,” 
said Shemseddin. "Is it possible that my son-in- 
law is a vizier ? ” 

Then he opened Bedreddin’s purse and found 
in it the paper which Noureddin had given him, 
setting forth his birth and rank. As soon as his 
eyes rested upon it, Shemseddin cried aloud : " O 
my daughter, this is good news ! Thy husband is 
the son of my brother. Would that I knew how this 
has come about ! ” And he trembled with delight. 

Shemseddin then betook himself to the sul- 
tan, carrying with him the purse, and related the 
whole story from beginning to end. The sultan 
was astonished and ordered that the case should 
be recorded. His wrath against the vizier melted 
away and he caused a wide search to be made for 
the missing Bedreddin. His efforts, however, were 
all in vain. There was no trace of the missing man. 

1 . 6 , 


THE THREE APPLES 


PART II 

Now it happened long after this, that Bedreddin 
the pastry cook was standing at the door of his 
shop, when he beheld a lad in the company of a 
huge black slave and followed by a crowd of people 
who were eager to gaze upon the child’s beauty. 

For some reason that he could not understand, 
Bedreddin’s heart yearned after the boy. He had 
just taken a cream tart out of the oven, and now, 
strewing the top with sugar and pomegranate 
seeds, he made haste to offer it to the young 
stranger. 

'' O my master,” he said, wilt thou come in 
and eat of my food and do me great honor ? ” 

And the boy, whose name was Agib, stopped 
and said to the slave, Truly, let us go in.” 

But the slave said, O my master, it is not fit- 
ting that we who are of the family of the vizier 
should eat in the shop of this cook.” 

Then Bedreddin spoke flattering words to the 
slave till his heart was touched, and he took the 
hand of Agib and entered the cook’s shop. 

The gratified Bedreddin set forth a saucer of 
pomegranate seeds prepared with almonds and 
sugar, saying, '' Eat, and may it do you good.” 

[ 97 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


But the little Agib said graciously, " Sit down and 
eat with us ; and perhaps Allah will help us in 
our search.” 

Then Bedreddin said, ” O my son, thou hast 
been parted from one thou lovest ! ” 

” Thou speakest the truth,” said Agib. My 
mother and my mother’s father and I seek one 
whom we fondly desire to find.” And the lad 
wept until Bedreddin, thinking of his own lone- 
liness, wept with him. 

After they had eaten their fill, the lad and the 
slave arose and quitted the shop, but the pastry 
cook, feeling as if his heart had gone with them, 
followed them at a distance. The slave was alarmed 
and said to his master : " That was an unlucky 
whim of thine. Look ! the man is following us 
and may do us some harm.” 

Agib looked back and saw Bedreddin behind 
them. Let him walk in the public road,” he said 
with some anger, ” but if he turns toward the 
tents of our encampment, we shall know that he 
is following us, and I will drive him back.” 

When, therefore, they had left the public road 
and Bedreddin still followed them toward the open 
space where the tents were standing, Agib took 
up a stone and cast it at him so that it cut his 
[98] 


THE THREE APPLES 

face. Then Bedreddin was grieved, but he blamed 
himself, saying : ” I was wrong to follow the lad in 
that way. No wonder he thought that I meant to 
do him harm.” 

Meanwhile Agib and his grandfather, who was 
none other than Shemseddin, vizier of Cairo, de- 
parted on their journey in search of the husband 
of the Lady of Beauty. And in time they arrived 
at the city of Balsora. 

Here Shemseddin took up his abode and pre- 
sented himself before the sultan, who, having re- 
ceived him with honor, asked for the reason of his 
coming. The vizier accordingly told him his story 
and begged for news of his brother Noureddin. 

O sahib,” said the sultan, ” Noureddin was my 
vizier, and I loved him much. He died twelve 
years ago and left a son, but we have lost him and 
know not where he is to be found. The lad’s 
mother is with us, however, for she is the daughter 
of my old vizier.” 

So Shemseddin begged permission to visit her 
and was ushered into the presence of his brother’s 
widow, to whom he made himself known. 

He told her that her son, Bedreddin, was the 
husband of his daughter, the Lady of Beauty, and 
that they had a son, named Agib, whom he had 
[ 99 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


brought with him. The vizier then sent for Agib, 
whom his grandmother received with rejoicing and 
yet with tears ; but Shemseddin said to her : This 
is not a time for weeping. Return with us to the 
land of Egypt and perhaps God will unite us with 
thy son.” She replied, I hear and I obey,” and 
having collected all her goods and slaves, she 
departed with her brother-in-law for Cairo. 

On the way thither the vizier encamped again 
at the city of Damascus, saying, '’We will stop 
here to buy presents for the sultan.” Agib then 
said to his slave : " Let us go again to the market 
place and see what hath happened to the cook 
whose confection we ate. I acted ill toward him.” 
And the slave replied, " I hear and I obey.” 

As they drew near the shop they beheld the 
cook standing at the door, and again it happened 
that he had just prepared a cream tart strewn with 
pomegranate seeds. 

" Peace be on thee ! ” said Agib, courteously. 

Bedreddin’s heart was strongly moved within 
him, though he knew not that the lad was his 
own son. 

" Enter, O my master,” he said. " Refresh my 
heart and eat of my food. I had not followed thee 
before, save that I loved thee beyond all reason.” 

[ loo] 


THE THREE APPLES 

"Thou must not follow and disgrace us,” said 
Agib, "for we are staying in this city but a few 
days in order that my grandfather may buy gifts 
for the sultan.” 

" I bind myself,” said Bedreddin, " to do nothing 
against thy wishes.” 

So Agib entered the shop with his slave, and 
Bedreddin placed before him the confection, where- 
upon Agib said, " Eat with us, and may Allah 
lighten our affliction.” And Bedreddin was glad, 
and he ate with them ; but he could not keep his 
eyes from the boy’s face. Then he sprinkled his 
guests with rose water from a bottle that was in 
his shop and gave them to drink two cups of 
sherbet, after which they departed and hastened 
back to the tents. 

Now it happened that on their return Agib 
went into his grandmother’s tent, and she said to 
him, " Where hast thou been ? ” And he answered, 
"In the city.” Then she arose and brought him a 
cream tart that she had just made, but Agib, 
having eaten so lately, could do no more than 
taste of the dainty. 

" O my child,” said his grandmother, " dost 
thou despise my cookery ? I prepared it for thee 
with my own hands, and no one in the world 
[ loi ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


except thy father, Bedreddin Hassan, can make 
so good a one.” 

Thy pardon, madam ! ” said Agib. " I have 
just now eaten in the city a cream tart such as 
one might dream of; compared with it, thine is 
good for nothing.” 

Upon hearing this the old woman blamed the 
slave exceedingly, saying, ” Hast thou taken this 
child into a cook’s shop ? ” And when he would 
have denied it, she set before him the cream tart, 
saying, " Eat then of this dainty, that thine inno- 
cence may be established ! ” But he, having al- 
ready eaten his fill, was unable to swallow a morsel 
of it. At length he said, " Know, then, that we 
did enter the cook’s shop and did eat some of his 
tarts, and never in my life did I taste anything 
so delicious, nor anything more detestable than 
this which is before me.” 

The mother of Bedreddin was angry at the 
slave’s rudeness and said to him, ” Go then, and 
fetch us some of this precious dainty, that we may 
see which of the two is better.” 

" I hear and I obey,” said the slave. 

Accordingly she gave him half a piece of gold 
and a saucer, and he went to the shop and said to 
the cook : "At the tent of my master we have laid 
[ 102 ] 



THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


a wager concerning thy cream tarts. Prepare one, 
therefore, with thy best skill and strew it with 
pomegranate seeds, that we may compare it with 
those cooked by us.” 

Bedreddin laughed at these words, saying, ” None 
can excel me in the preparation of this dainty ex- 
cept my mother, and she is in a far distant coun- 
try.” So he strewed a tart with pomegranate seeds, 
and the slave hastened back to the tent. 

As soon as the mother of Bedreddin had tasted 
the tart she cried aloud, saying : " It is my son who 
cooked this tart. None but he could have prepared 
it in this fashion.” 

When the vizier heard these words he rejoiced 
exceedingly, but he would not reveal himself to 
Bedreddin until he had put his hopes to the proof. 
Calling his servants, he said, ” Let twenty of you 
go to the cook’s shop and bind his hands behind 
him with his turban and bring him hither, but do 
him no bodily harm.” And his servants did as he 
commanded them. 

Meanwhile Shemseddin rode to the palace, and 
showing to the ruler of Damascus letters from 
the sultan of Cairo, asked for permission to carry 
Bedreddin to that city. This having been granted, 
the vizier hastened back to his tent. 

[ 104] 


THE THREE APPLES 

He found there the captive Bedreddin, who was 
saying to himself, ” What can they have found in 
the confection that they treat me in this manner ? ” 

Said the vizier to him, "Art thou he who sold 
my slave the cream tart ? ” 

"Yes,” said the young man, "and I have yet 
to learn my fault in the piatter.” 

"It shall soon be told to thee,” said the vizier. 

Then he ordered his slaves to put fetters on 
the feet of Bedreddin, and they carried him a 
prisoner to Cairo. 

" Now,” said the vizier to him, " I have given 
orders to bind thee to a cross of wood and show 
thee as my prisoner to the people of the city.” 

"And why wilt thou use me thus ? ” asked the 
indignant Bedreddin. 

" Because thy tart lacked pepper,” answered the 
vizier. 

" Because my cream tart lacked pepper,” ex- 
claimed Bedreddin, " wilt thou do all this to me ? ” 

"Assuredly,” said the vizier. " The crime de- 
serves death.” 

At this Bedreddin was amazed and silent, until 
at last the vizier said, " Of what art thou thinking?” 

" I was thinking of feeble-minded folk like thy- 
self,” said Bedreddin. " If thou hadst any sense at 

[ 105 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


all, thou surely wouldst not behave to me in this 
manner.” 

" I must punish thee,” said Shemseddin, " so that 
thou mayst not do the like again.” 

Then the vizier left the young man and went 
to his own house, and when he had arrived there 
he said to his servants,. "Arise, and furnish the 
house as it was on the occasion of my daughter’s 
wedding.” So they arose and lighted the candles, 
and the Lady of Beauty put on her bridal array. 
Bedreddin’s turban and clothing were placed 
where he had left them, and having thus arranged 
everything, the vizier gave further orders to his 
slaves and withdrew. 

When Bedreddin had fallen asleep, the fetters 
were taken off his feet and he was carried into 
the same room of the palace where he had slept 
many years before. Presently he awoke and be- 
held his turban and clothing and the familiar 
aspect of the place. 

"Am I awake, or am I asleep ? ” he cried out in 
bewilderment. " This is my bride’s dwelling, and 
yet I was just now a prisoner.” 

As he thus marveled to himself the curtains of 
an inner room parted, and the Lady of Beauty 
appeared. 


[io6] 


THE THREE APPLES 

" O my lord,” she said, "why dost thou talk to thy- 
self and wipe thy forehead in such amazement?” 

Then he looked at her face and laughed and 
said: "Truly I am bewildered by a dream. How 
many years have I been absent from thee ? ” 

And she said : " What art thou thinking of ? Is 
not that thy turban that thou didst place there 
only last evening ? ” 

"True,” he said, "it is mine. But I dreamed 
that I was for twelve years a cook in Damascus. 
Surely I was asleep, and in my sleep must have 
seen all those things.” 

" What things hast thou seen ? ” asked the Lady 
of Beauty ; and he told her the whole story, adding, 
" If I had not waked, they would have bound me 
to a wooden cross and shown me to the people of 
the city.” But he was still perplexed, sometimes 
saying, " I saw it in my sleep,” and again, " This 
happened when I was awake.” 

Then the vizier came to him and saluted him, 
but Bedreddin, as soon as he saw him, cried out, 
" Thou art he who gave orders to bind my hands 
behind me and to take me from my shop because 
I made a cream tart that was lacking in pepper.” 

" True,” said the vizier, " but I did this in order 
to discover if thou wert my daughter’s husband. 
[ 107] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


When I saw that thou knewest the house and thy 
turban and thy purse, then was I convinced that 
thou art indeed the son of my brother. The boy 
to whom thou gavest the cream tart is thy son, 
and thy wife is my daughter.” 

Bedreddin was full of astonishment and joy at 
his uncle’s words.. 

" O my son,” said the vizier, " the cause of all 
this was the idle talk that passed between me and 
thy father.” And he related to him the whole story, 
after which he sent for Agib and for Bedreddin’s 
mother, and they all rejoiced together. 

The vizier then went up to the sultan and in- 
formed him of these occurrences, and the king 
was astonished and ordered that a record should 
be made of them. And Shemseddin and Bedred- 
din with their families lived in the utmost enjoy- 
ment and happiness until they were visited by 
the destroyer of delights and the separator of 
companions. 

When the caliph heard the tale he marveled 
and said, "This should be written in letters of 
liquid gold.” Then he set the slave at liberty, and 
the young man who had told the story became 
one of his courtiers. 


[108] 



PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN 

PART I 

A 3UT twenty days’ sail from the coast 
of Persia there lived a king who had 
an only son, Prince Camaralzaman. He 
was brought up with great care and was taught 
all that kings should know. When he came to 
a proper age his father said to him, ” My son, 
it is my wish, before I die, to see thee happily 
married.” 

” O my father,” answered the young man, I 
have no inclination to marry. I beg thy forgive- 
ness, but I cannot gratify thy desire.” 

The king was exceedingly disappointed, but 
because he loved his son he felt no anger and 
showed him only kindness and patience. At the 
[ 109 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

end of a year, however, he called the prince to him 
again and made the same demand. 

Then Camaralzaman said : O my father, urge 
me not in this matter. I have read books .both 
of old and of modern times, and I am convinced 
that disaster goes hand in hand with women.” 

When the king heard these words he was cast 
down, and said to his vizier, ”Tell me what I 
shall do.” 

O king,” answered the vizier, '' wait till another 
year and then bring the matter before him on a 
day of state. He will hardly refuse before a public 
assembly.” 

The king, therefore, had patience for another 
year, while Camaralzaman increased in grace and 
beauty. When the day of state came, a great 
council was held, and before all the officers of 
the kingdom the anxious father said : '' My son, I 
have a command to lay upon thee, and I must 
insist upon thy obedience. I am determined to see 
thee married to a king’s daughter before I die.” 

The prince, who was standing in the posture of 
submission, unclasped his hands from behind his 
back and rolled up his sleeves in his rage. 

''Never will I consent!” he cried; "not even 
if my refusal leads thee to put me to death.” 

[ iio] 













THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

The king was astonished and ashamed. He 
called upon his guards to bind his son and carry 
him away to an old tower, where he was to be 
imprisoned. When he found himself alone Cama- 
ralzaman threw himself upon a couch, repenting of 
his unseemly behavior and saying: "Would that 
I had obeyed my father’s demand ! Even mar- 
riage might be better than this gloomy place.” 

At length he fell asleep, with a candle burning 
at his head and a lantern at his feet, for the room 
was dark even by day, and he did not wake till the 
middle of the night. 

Now as fate would have it, there was in the 
tower an old well, inhabited by a fairy named 
Maimoune. In the night, as was her custom, she 
came up out of the well to wander about the world. 
She was amazed to see a light in the tower, and 
entered, without hesitation, over the slave who lay 
at the door. 

Prince Camaralzaman had but partly covered 
his face with the bedclothes, and Maimoune said 
to herself, " Surely I will save him from all harm, 
for so fair a youth deserves a fair fortune.” 

Spreading her wings she flew up into the air, 
where presently she met a genie called Dahnash, 
who was seized with fear when he recognized her, 

[II2] 


PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN 

for he was one of the rebellious genii, and she was 
the daughter of the king of the jinn. 

” Tell me, wandering spirit, whence thou comest 
at this hour and what thou hast seen,” she said 
to him. 

" O princess,” he answered, " I am come from 
the land of Cathay, and I will tell thee of a won- 
derful thing that I have seen to-night.” 

What is this wonder ? ” said Maimoune. " But 
take care that thou tellest me only the truth, or I 
will clip thy wings and treat thee as thou deservest.” 

"The king of China,” said the genie, "has a 
daughter who is the loveliest maiden the world 
has ever known. All the neighboring kings have 
sent ambassadors to ask her hand in marriage, but 
so far she has refused to marry any of her suitors. 
The king has received them courteously, but he 
will not force his daughter to marry against her 
will, and the ambassadors have been obliged to 
return whence they came. 

" ' Sir,’ the princess says to her father, ' I am 
content as I am. I am a princess ruling over men, 
and I have not the least desire that a man shall 
rule over me.’ 

" Now, however, the king is beginning to be 
impatient with his daughter, and he has locked 

[113] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


her into her apartments with ten old women to wait 
upon her. He has sent word to the kings who 
sought her hand that she is plainly mad, and he 
has caused it to be made known in every court 
that if any physician can cure her, he shall have 
her for a wife. I beg thee, O Maimoune, to come 
with me and look upon her, for verily so fair a 
creature is not to be found elsewhere on this 
earth." 

Maimoune laughed at his words. " O foolish 
one," she said, " I could show thee a young man 
this night, the sight of whom would drive thee 
dumb with admiration." 

'' And where is this youth ? " asked the genie. 

'' Know, O genie," answered Maimoune, '' that 
he is imprisoned in a tower, because, like thy 
princess, he refuses to marry." 

'' Show him to me,” said the genie, '' so that I 
may see if he is indeed as fair as the Princess 
Badoura." 

” Come then with me," said the fairy, and 
afterwards we will look upon thy wonderful 
princess." 

” I hear and obey," said the genie ; and they 
descended to the tower where Camaralzaman 
still lay asleep. 


[114] 


PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN 

Dahnash looked at the prince steadfastly for a 
while and then said to the fairy : “ Thou art ex- 
cusable, after all. They are equal in beauty. It 
is as if they were cast in the same mold.” 

At these words the angry Maimoune dealt him 
so fierce a blow with her wing that she well-nigh 
made an end of him. 

” I conjure thee,” she said, to go and fetch thy 
princess in all haste that we may lay them side by 
side and compare them. If thou dost not obey 
me, I will tear thee in little pieces and cast thee 
into the desert.” 

" O my lady,” answered the terrified genie, I 
will do thy bidding.” He flew toward China with 
incredible speed and soon returned, bearing the 
princess asleep in his arms. He carried her into 
the tower and laid her beside Camaralzaman, and 
lo! they might have been brother and sister, so 
like were they in feature. 

There now arose a great dispute between the 
genie and the fairy as to which of the two sleepers 
was the more beautiful. At last Maimoune cried, 
” We will refer the matter to a third judge, who 
shall decide between us.” 

" I agree to that,” said Dahnash ; whereupon 
the fairy smote the earth with her foot, and there 
[II5] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


appeared a hideous genie with seven horns on his 
head and sharp claws on his feet. When he saw 
Maimoune he kissed the earth before her and 
asked what was her will. 

" O Caschcasch,” she answered, " we brought 
thee hither to judge which is the handsomer of 
these two that lie asleep.” 

The genie looked long and earnestly at the prince 
and princess, marveling at them. Then he said : 
" If you will have the truth, one is as beautiful as 
the other. But let us wake them in turn and see 
whose conduct is the more to be admired.” 

This advice pleased both the genie and the fairy. 
Maimoune accordingly changed herself into a gnat 
and stung Camaralzaman on the neck, so that he 
woke. Beside him he saw a lady of exquisite 
beauty, lying fast asleep. Amazed and bewildered, 
he was about to waken her when he thought: 

This must be she whom my father wishes me 
to marry. He was wrong not to let me see her 
before, for I should never have opposed his will 
had I known how lovely she would be. Perhaps 
he is even now hidden behind the curtains to 
watch my surprise. I am loath to waken her, but 
surely I may take this token from her finger until 
we meet again.” 


[ii6] 


PRINCE CAMARALZAM AN 


So saying, he gently lifted her hand and re- 
moved a ring, putting one of his own in its 
place. Then he went to sleep, being under the 
enchantment of the fairy. 

As soon as Camaralzaman was asleep, Dahnash 
transformed himself and bit the princess so sharply 
that she started up and opened her eyes. When 
she saw the youth beside her, she cried out : "Alas ! 
this is he whom my father would have me marry. 
Why was I kept in ignorance and thus led into dis- 
pleasing a loving parent ? Wake, then, O wake ! ” 
So saying, she took the prince by the arm and 
shook him so violently that he would certainly 
have been roused had not the fairy deepened his 
slumber. In the midst of these vain efforts the 
princess suddenly perceived that he had exchanged 
rings with her, but while she was trying to solve 
the mystery, she too fell under enchantment, and 
her eyes closed in sleep. 

When Maimoune saw that she could speak 
without fear of waking the princess, she said to 
Dahnash, "Art thou convinced ? Did not my 
prince show the greater courtesy ? ” Then, turning 
to Caschcasch, she went on, " Help Dahnash to 
carry his princess to her own place, for the night 
is nearly gone.” The two genii did as they were 

[ 117] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


commanded, and Maimoune returned to her well. 
At break of day Camaralzaman awoke and looked 
to see if the lady were still there. Then he called 
to the slave and said to him, ” Who carried away 
the young lady while I slept ? ” 

” O my lord,” said the astonished slave, " no 
young lady has been here. How could she have 
come in when the door was locked and I asleep 
before it ? ” 

” Thou art a rascal,” said the prince, ” and art 
trying to deceive me.” So saying, he tied him to 
the well rope and lowered him two or three times 
into the well. The well was deep, and the water 
was cold. 

” Now,” said he to the trembling slave, " tell me 
the truth.” 

" My lord,” said the slave, ” let me put on dry 
clothes, and I will tell thee all.” 

" Go then,” said his master, ” but return speedily 
and make up thy mind to conceal nothing.” 

The slave ran out, and having locked the door 
upon the prince, went to the palace and sought 
the king. 

'' O my lord,” he cried, '' the prince has lost his 
wits. He has nearly made an end of me, as thou 
mayst see. He says that a young lady was in the 

[ii8] 


PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN 


tower last night. But I have seen neither girl nor 
boy, and the door was locked all night, for I slept 
before it with the key under my head.” 

When the king heard this he was enraged 
against the vizier for lack of another to blame, 
and said : " O miserable vizier, thou art the cause 
of all this that has come to pass. Go and bring 
me news of my son.” 

So the vizier rose and hastened with the slave 
to the tower, tumbling over his skirts in his fear 
of the king’s anger. Camaralzaman was sitting on 
the couch, reading the Koran. The vizier saluted 
him and, sitting beside him, said, " O my lord, this 
wretched slave has brought us news that alarms 
us greatly.” 

" What did he say ? ” asked the young man. 

"He told us,” said the vizier, " that thy wits 
had fled, for thou wouldst have it that a young 
woman was here last night:” 

At this Camaralzaman was angry and said : " It 
is plain that the slave was instructed to deceive 
me. Tell me, O vizier, where is that damsel ? ” 

The vizier wondered at his words and said : 
" Surely, my lord, it was only a dream. Didst 
thou in truth see this young woman with thine 
eyes ? ” 


[ 119] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

" O deceitful old man,” cried the prince, " didst 
thou suppose I saw her with my ears ? ” So say- 
ing, he sprang up and laid hold of the vizi-er’s 
long beard, and dragged him off the couch. 

Then said the vizier to himself, " I must save 
myself from this madman by telling a lie; other- 
wise he will kill me.” 

So he said, " O my lord, be not angry with me, 
for indeed I was charged to conceal thy father’s 
plans from thee.” 

Then said Camaralzaman, ” Go now to him and 
tell him that I consent to marry this maiden, and 
bring me his answer without delay.” 

"It is well,” said the vizier. And hardly believ- 
ing in his escape, he set off running and came to 
the king. 

" O king,” said he, " his wits are gone.” Then 
he related all that had passed. 

When the king heard this he went to the 
tower with the vizier, and Camaralzaman came 
to them at once, standing with his eyes cast 
down and his hands clasped behind his back. 
Presently he lifted his head and repeated the 
following verses: 

” If I have failed to show respect, which is thy due, 

I now regret my fault and for thy pardon sue.” 

[ 120 ] 


PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN 


Then the king embraced his son and kissed 
him between the eyes, saying to him, " What is all 
this concerning the damsel in the tower ? ” 

Camaralzaman laughed at his father s words and 
said : ” O my father, let us have no more jesting.. 
I agree to marry the lady whom I saw last night.” 

" O my son,” answered the king, " may Allah 
preserve thee ! That was only a dream.” 

Then the prince said : " I will prove to thee that 
it was no dream. See, here is her ring, which I 
took from her finger. Look at it, O king, and 
mark its value.” 

"Verily,” said the father, "some strange secret 
hangs about this affair. No one is to blame except 
my miserable vizier! And I am convinced that 
only Allah can solve so deep a mystery.” 

" O my father,” cried the young man, " deal 
kindly with me and seek out this damsel, or I 
shall die of grief.” 

And he sighed and groaned, while the king took 
him by the hand and led him to the palace. Here 
the distracted father sat by his son’s bed night 
and day, weeping and mourning with him, until 
at last the vizier said: "O king of the age, how 
long wilt thou absent thyself from affairs of state ? 
It is my counsel to carry the prince to the pavilion 
[ I2I ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


overlooking the sea and there stay with him five 
days in every week. On Monday and Thursday 
thou canst hold state receptions and attend to pub- 
lic business. On these days thou wilt command 
and forbid, according to thy custom, but the rest 
of the week thou wilt comfort thy son until Allah 
sends thee relief.” 

The king saw that the vizier’s counsel was wise, 
so he rose at once and ordered his son to be car- 
ried to the pavilion overlooking the sea. It was 
furnished with rugs and carpets and hung with 
silken curtains spangled with jewels. Here they 
stayed for many days and nights, according to 
the vizier’s plan. 

PART II 

When the two genii had carried the princess 
back to China and had laid her on her own bed, 
she slept until daybreak. Then she woke and 
looked about her for the handsome youth upon 
whom her last waking glance had fallen. Seeing 
no sign of him she gave a great cry, and all her 
serving women came running to her, asking what 
her trouble might be. ’ 

"Where is that young man whom I saw last 
night ? ” she demanded of them. 

[ 122 ] 


PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN 


”Alas ! ” cried the chief of the serving women, 
" what is the meaning of all this ? I have seen no 
man, old or young, and I beg thee to cease this 
unseemly jesting. If it should come to thy father’s 
ears, what could save us from his wrath ? ” 

" I tell thee I am not jesting,” said Badoura. 

" May Allah preserve thy wits ! cried the old 
woman. "No man could enter here without our 
knowing it. Thou art talking nonsense.” 

These words angered the princess, and she was 
so unkind to her waiting-woman that the king 
was immediately informed of all that had hap- 
pened. He visited his daughter without delay, 
and when she greeted him with the same ques- 
tion he was convinced that her reason had indeed 
fled. He bade her women lay hands upon her and 
bind her and make her fast to the window with a 
chain of iron. He then summoned the doctors 
and astrologers and magicians and said to them: 
" My daughter has lost her reason. Whoever can 
cure her shall have her for his wife and shall 
have half of my kingdom besides, but whoever 
attempts it and fails to cure her shall lose his 
head.” , 

Accordingly those who made the attempt with- 
out success were promptly beheaded by order of 
[ 123] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


the king, until there were forty heads displayed 
upon the palace wall, and all the folk held aloof 
from the princess in fear. 

Now Badoura had a foster brother whose name 
was Marzavan, and he had been traveling for 
many years in far countries. It came to pass that 
he returned at this time and went to his mother 
to inquire for the princess. 

”Alas ! ” said his mother, " thy sister has been 
smitten with madness and her reason has fled. 
For three years she has worn an iron chain around 
her neck, and all the magicians and physicians 
have not been able to cure her.” 

When Marzavan heard this he said: ” It may 
be that I can help her. I have studied astrology 
and necromancy, and there is no person of note 
in these sciences whom I have not sought out 
in order to add to my wisdom. Let me see her, 
if possible, without the king’s knowledge.” 

"So be it,” said his mother; and she immedi- 
ately set about arrangements for her son’s admis- 
sion to the palace. As soon as it was dark she 
dressed him in woman’s clothing and took him 
with her on her usual visit to the princess. 

" Madam,” said the old woman, " this is not a 
woman whom I have brought to thee, but thy 
[ 124] 









4 



r 





THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


foster brother Marzavan, who has a great desire 
to see thee.” 

The princess welcomed the young man with 
joy, and Marzavan, after saluting her with all 
respect, pulled out the books he had brought with 
him, and lighting a candle began to recite certain 
conjurations. 

" O my brother,” said Badoura, ” thou hast been 
long away.” 

"'True,” he answered her, "but now I am here 
to cure thee of this illness.” 

Then she said to him, " I am not ill nor have I 
lost my wits”; and she poured forth to him the 
whole story, showing him the ring that Camaral- 
zaman had placed upon her finger. 

Marzavan pondered awhile, scarce knowing 
what to think, but at length he said : " I believe 
all these things, although to others they may 
seem impossible. To-morrow I will begin my 
search for a cure for thy sorrow.” 

So saying, he took leave of his foster sister and 
traveled from city to city and from island to 
island. Everywhere he heard of the Princess 
Badoura’s madness, until after a long while he 
reached a city where the folk no longer spoke 
of the princess of China but of a youth named 
[126] 


PRINCE C AM ARALZAMAN 


Camaralzaman, the son of the king of the Khali- 
dan Islands, who was suffering from a strange 
delusion that had unsettled his mind. 

As soon as Marzavan had heard the story he 
knew that his efforts were to be rewarded. Im- 
mediately he took passage in a ship, but he sailed 
for a whole month before he came in sight of the 
islands over which King Shahriman ruled. And 
now there came up a terrible storm, which caused 
the ship to sink and the passengers to be flung 
into the sea. 

As fate would have it, the vizier was standing 
at a window of the pavilion where Camaralzaman 
was lodged, and as he looked forth over the sea 
he saw a man struggling with the waves. Moved 
with pity, he said to the king, " O my lord, I 
crave permission to go down to the shore and 
rescue a man who is drowning.” 

O vizier,” answered the king, " has not enough 
evil befallen already, without going forth to seek 
it ? If this man comes hither and exults over our 
misfortunes, I will surely strike off thy head be- 
fore his. I have spoken ; do as thou wilt.” 

So the vizier descended to the sea, where he 
found Marzavan nigh unto death. Catching him by 
the hair of his head, the vizier drew the drowning 

[ 127] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


man ashore and waited until he came to him- 
self, when he gave him dry clothes and said to 
him : ” I have saved thy life ; do not now repay 
me by causing my death. I am about to bring 
thee into the presence of officers and viziers, all 
silent and sorrowful because of Camaralzaman, 
the king’s son. See that thou too art silent.” 

Marzavan was now certain that he had come to 
the end of his ♦ search, but he merely said, "Who 
is Camaralzaman } ” 

Then the vizier told him the story and added, 
" When thou shalt enter the pavilion look not 
upon the prince, for the king fears that thou art 
here to exult over his misfortunes.” 

So the two went up from the shore together, 
and now Marzavan must needs go close to the 
prince, who was lying upon a couch, and gaze 
upon his face. The vizier was ready to die of 
fright, but Marzavan pretended not to see his 
frantic signals, and cried out, " Praises be to Allah 
for making two such marvels of beauty as he 
and she ! ” 

At these words Camaralzaman opened his eyes 
and looked at the stranger. " O my father,” he 
said, " ask our guest to come and sit by my 
side.” 


[128] 


PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN 

The king was so amazed to hear his son speak 
in this wise that he rose and urged Marzavan to 
sit down, and asked him whence he came. 

” From the kingdom of China,” said Marzavan. 

Then said the king, '' Mayhap thy coming will 
help my son and heal him of his illness.” 

" If Allah wills,” answered Marzavan. Then he 
said softly to Camaralzaman, " Be of good cheer, 
my lord ; the lady is now even as thou art, but 
the cure of you both is in my hands.” 

At this Camaralzaman begged his father to help 
him sit up, whereupon the king was wild with joy. 
He embraced his son and called for food, which 
the two young men shared with him. News was 
sent about the city of the prince’s recovery, and it 
was a day of high festival. 

When at last the prince and the. stranger were 
left alone together, they told each other all that 
had happened, and Marzavan said : " O my lord, 
my purpose in coming here was to help the prin- 
cess Badoura. It only remains for us to plan how 
speedily we may return to her. To-morrow ask 
the king’s leave to go hunting, and as soon as we 
reach the open country we will make our escape.” 

So Camaralzaman asked his father, and the 
king consented to their going. He made ready 
[ 129] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


four horses, and a camel to carry the food and water 
necessary for the trip. Then he embraced his son, 
saying, " Be not absent from me long, for I can as 
yet hardly believe that thou art restored to me.” 

Camaralzaman agreed to return speedily, and 
with his guest rode out into the open country. 
For many days and nights they went on until at 
length they came to the end of their journey and 
entered the Chinese city. Marzavan had clothed 
the prince in the garments of a merchant and had 
given him a set of astrological instruments. 

" Go, my lord,” he said to him, " and stand be- 
fore the king’s palace and cry out : ' I am the 
skilled physician. I am the famous astrologer. 
I am he that can reveal the Sought and the 
Seeker ! ’ When the king hears this he will send 
for thee and wjll offer to let thee see his daughter. 
Thou must say to him, ' Give me three days to 
cure her; if she is not then recovered, my life is 
in thy hands.’ 

As soon as thou art alone with the princess 
reveal thyself to her, and her madness will cease. 
Then urge her to eat and drink, and her father in 
his joy will consent to all thou shalt ask.” 

Accordingly Camaralzaman took up his instru- 
ments and stood before the king’s palace, crying: 
[ 130] 


PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN 


I am the skilled physician. I am the famous 
astrologer. I am he who knows the Sought and 
the Seeker.” 

Then the people of the city flocked to him and 
stood around him in admiration. Presently one of 
them said to him : '' Do but look at yonder heads 
on the palace wall ! They are all those of men 
who have lost their lives in this same adventure. 
Have pity on thine own youth and good looks ! ” 
But he continued to cry aloud, " I am the skilled 
physician,” and the folk were wroth with him. 

He went on thus until the king was disturbed 
by the clamor and said, " Go and fetch me that 
astrologer.” 

So the vizier went down and led Camaralzaman 
to the king, who said to him, " O my son, if thou 
art not in truth an astrologer, do not risk thy 
life, for I am bound by my word to strike off thy 
head shouldst thou attempt to cure my daughter 
and fail.” 

" I know of the condition,” said Camaralzaman, 
” and willingly accept it.” 

Then the king bade a slave go with the young 
man to the princess, but Camaralzaman pushed on 
so fast that the slave was left behind. Why such 
haste ? ” he cried, as he ran after the supposed 

[ 131 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


astrologer. '' Never yet have I seen one who was 
so eager for destruction ! ” 

By this time they had come to the curtain which 
hung before the door of the princess’s apartments, 
and Camaralzaman said, " Shall I cure the lady 
from here, or shall I go into her room ? ” And 
the slave said, " It would be more glory to cure 
her from here.” 

So Camaralzaman sat down and wrote a letter 
to the princess, and at the end he added these 
verses : 

I send thee back the ring I took one night from thee ; 

So send me that forthwith which thou didst take from me. 

And when he had finished he folded Badoura’s 
ring inside the letter and gave it to the slave. 

Now when the princess read the letter she was 
filled with joy and cried out to the slave, " Go and 
tell the king that I am cured.” 

These tidings were immediately carried to the 
king of China. "Sir,” added the slave, "all the 
astrologers and doctors who have attempted to 
cure the princess were as fools compared to this 
young man. He made use of neither instruments 
nor conjurations, but cured her without even 
seeing her ! ” 


[132] 


PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN 

The king marveled at this news, and going at 
once to his daughter’s apartment, he embraced 
her and placed her hand in Camaralzaman’s, say- 
ing, Whoever thou art, I will keep my word.” 

Then Camaralzaman revealed his name and 
rank and told the whole story from beginning 
to end, whereat the king wondered exceedingly. 
The two lovers were married at once, and the city 
was decorated for seven days. Huge tables were 
spread with all manner of dainties, and the guests 
ceased not from rejoicing for a month. 

Now when this time had passed, Camaralzaman 
remembered his promise to his father and begged 
the princess to return with him for a year in his 
own country. This she consented to do, and the 
king furnished them with horses and dromedaries 
and a litter for his daughter, besides mules and 
camels and all kinds of traveling gear. Moreover 
he gave them slaves to serve them, and a thousand 
purses of gold. 

The prince and princess went on for a whole 
month, at the end of which time they found them- 
selves in the midst of a beautiful plain where they 
pitched their tents. Here they ate and drank and 
rested, and overcome by weariness the princess 
lay down to sleep. 


[ 133] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

After a while Camaralzaman went into the tent 
and noticed that on his wife’s girdle, which she 
had taken off, there glittered a jewel as red as 
fire. Two lines of writing were engraved upon it. 

" How does it happen,” he said to himself, ” that 
never before have 1 seen this? It must be some 
secret charm by which she sets great store.” 

So saying, he unfastened the jewel and carried 
it to the light in order to read what was written 
upon it. Before he could do so, however, a bird 
swooped down upon it and flew away with it. 
Fearing to lose the talisman, he ran after the 
bird, but it flew on before him, keeping just out 
of his reach, until the night came on, when it 
perched on a high tree. Camaralzaman would 
have turned back, but he had no idea in which 
direction the encampment was. So he lay down 
under the tree and slept till morning, when, just 
as he woke, he saw the bird fly away. He arose 
and walked after it, nor could he help smiling 
when he saw how slow was the bird’s flight. 

"This is a strange thing,” he said to himself. 
" Y esterday the bird flew as fast as I could run. 
To-day, as if it knew that I am tired, it flies at 
my own pace. I must follow it, for how else can 
I hope to come to a land where people live ? ” 
[134] 


PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN 

So he went on and on. At night the bird perched 
on a tree, and by day it led him according to his 
strength. At the end of ten days’ traveling he came 
in sight of a city, whereupon he sat down by a 
stream and washed his face and hands and rested 
awhile. Then he arose and entered the city gate, 
not knowing whither he should go. He crossed the 
city from end to end, but saw no one. Finally, he 
came out at the sea gate and found himself among 
gardens and orchards, where presently he was met 
by a gardener, who said to him : Praises be to 
Allah that thou hast escaped with thy life ! Quick, 
enter at this door before thou art seen by any of 
the Magians who inhabit this city.” 

Accordingly Camaralzaman entered the man’s 
garden and told him the whole adventure of the 
talisman. 

” Know, O my son,” said the gardener, that the 
cities of Islam are far from here, and between them 
and this place is a journey of twelve months by 
land and a voyage of four months by sea. Once a 
year we send a ship thither with merchandise, and 
thence to the dominions of King Shahriman.” 

Thereupon Camaralzaman considered awhile 
and concluded that he could do no better than to 
stay with the gardener until it was time for the 

[ 135 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


ship to sail. So he said, " Wilt thou take me into 
thy service until I can return to my own country ? ” 
"To hear is to agree,” said the gardener, and 
forthwith clothed him in a short blue gown that 
came to his knees, and taught him how to hoe up 
the weeds and to water the plants and trees. 


PART III 

Now when the Princess Badoura awoke she 
sought for her husband in vain. Presently she 
noticed her girdle and saw that her precious talis- 
man was gone. 

" Alas ! ” she said to herself, " what am I to do ? 
If I go out and tell my slaves that my husband is 
not here, they will refuse to obey me and we shall 
all be lost. I must pretend that I am he until he 
returns.” 

So she arose and put on her husband’s riding 
boots and some of his clothing and a turban like 
his. Then, placing one of her slave girls in her 
own royal litter, she called to the pages to bring 
her Camaralzaman’s steed and to make ready for 
the march. So they bound on the- burdens and set 
forth, never doubting that it was their master who 
rode at the head of the troop. 

[136] 


PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN 

Days and nights they journeyed until they came 
in sight of a city overlooking the sea, and here 
they pitched their tents. When the princess asked 
the name of the town, she was told : " It is the City 
of Ebony. Its king is Armanus, and he has a 
daughter called Hayat al-Nufus.” 

The next day came a messenger from Armanus 
to learn what prince had encamped outside the 
capital, and the man carried back the answer 
that it was a king’s son who was bound for the 
Khalidan Islands. Thereupon came King Arma- 
nus himself to greet the visitors and to urge them 
to become his guests. Badoura and her suite ac- 
cordingly entered the city and abode there for 
the space of three days. 

At the end of that time the king said to the 
supposed prince : ” O my son, I am an old man, 
and my only child is a daughter who is like thee in 
beauty and grace. If my land please thee and thou 
art content to abide here, I will marry thee to her 
and thou shalt be king and rule over my people.” 

Then the Princess Badoura said to herself, 
”What shall I do? If I refuse, he may send his 
soldiers after me to slay me. I must consent, and 
trust to the kindness of this unknown princess to 
forgive my deceit.” 


[ 137] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


So she raised her head and said, ” I hear and 
I obey.” Whereupon the king rejoiced, and a great 
festival was proclaimed throughout the city and 
the Ebony Islands. All the chamberlains and 
viziers assembled and did homage to the new 
sultan, never doubting that they paid respect to 
a young man. Preparations were made for the 
royal marriage, and in a few days Hayat al-Nufus 
was wedded with much ceremony to Badoura. 
When the two young women were alone together 
Badoura began to weep, and continued to sigh 
and lament until the pride of the other was hurt, 
and she said : " O my lord, art thou not ashamed 
to weep at such a time as this? It is because I 
am sorry for thee that I refrain from telling my 
father of thy unhappiness, for if he knew of it, 
he would be angry with thee and perhaps cause 
thy death.” 

Then said Badoura, ” I beseech thee to keep my 
secret,” and told her the whole story from begin- 
ning to end. Whereupon the other was moved 
with pity and said, " Be not afraid, O my sister, 
for I will not betray thee.” Then they kissed each 
other and slept until the muezzin called to morn- 
ing prayer. And the next day great marriage feasts 
were held, and all the people rejoiced. 

[138] 


PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN 


Meanwhile Camaralzaman lived a quiet life with 
the gardener, until one day as he was walking 
about the garden his foot slipped and he fell 
against the root of a tree. As he rose he saw two 
birds quarreling above his head, and presently 
one of them smote the other so that it fell to the 
ground. And as it lay there, behold, two other 
birds swooped down upon it and drooped their 
wings over it and seemed to mourn. Camaralza- 
man saw them dig a grave for the dead bird and 
bury it ; after which they flew away, returning 
with the slayer, whom they killed. All this Cama- 
ralzaman watched with wonder, and as he looked 
he saw something gleam beside the dead bird. 
Whereupon he drew near and saw that it was 
the talisman which had led him astray so many 
months before. 

" Praises be to Allah ! ” he cried, " for this is 
surely a sign that I shall find my beloved.” Then 
he examined the jewel and pressed it to his eyes 
and bound it safely upon his arm. After this he 
took his hoe and returned to his work. 

Now the next day as he was digging in the 
garden he discovered a trapdoor under a carob 
tree, and when he had lifted the door he saw 
a winding staircase which led to a very ancient 

[139] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


cavern. Here he found many brass jars filled with 
gleaming red gold, whereupon he said, ” Verily 
sorrow has departed and comfort has come ! ” And 
he went back to his digging until the close of 
the day. 

At night the gardener came to him and said: 
'' Rejoice, O my son, at the good tidings of a 
speedy return to thy native land. The merchants 
are ready and in three days’ time will set sail for 
the City of Ebony, which is the first of the 
cities of Islam. Thence thou must travel by land 
a six months’ march before thou wilt come to 
the Islands of Khalidan, the dominion of King 
Shahriman.” 

At this Camaralzaman was glad and said, " I 
also have good news for thee,” and showed him 
the gold which was in the twenty jars. 

Then said the gardener, O my son, this is 
Heaven’s gift to thee, for though I have lived 
here many years, yet never did I dream of such 
riches.” 

" Nay,” said Camaralzaman, " this must be shared 
between us.” 

Then,” said the gardener, '' fill some jars with 
the olives that grow in the garden, for they are 
not found except in our land, and the merchants 
[140] 


PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN 

carry them to all countries. Lay thy half of the 
gold in the jars and strew it over with olives. 
Cover them, and when thou shalt set sail for thine 
own country, take them with thee in the ship.” 

So Camaralzaman arose and took fifty leather 
bottles and did as the gardener had said, and at 
the bottom of one of the bottles he laid Badoura’s 
talisman. 

Now it happened that the next day the gar- 
dener fell sick, and on the third day his sickness 
increased until his life was despaired of. Mean- 
while, behold, the master of the ship came seek- 
ing Camaralzaman and saying, " Where is the 
young man who desires to go with us to the 
Ebony Islands?” 

" I am he,” said Camaralzaman, " and here are 
my goods to be taken on the ship.” And he 
pointed out the bottles of olives that stood ready. 
So the crew carried away the olives, saying, " Make 
haste, for the wind is fair.” 

Then Camaralzaman returned to the gardener 
to say farewell and found that the old man was 
dying. "Verily,” said the youth, " I will not leave 
him to die alone. I will stay with him until his 
spirit has departed.” Having done so, he made 
all haste for the ship, but he found that she had 

[ 141 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

already set sail and was fast disappearing from 
sight. So he went back heavy-hearted and sick 
with grief. 

As time went on, however, he took up his work 
in the garden, and one day he went to the cave 
and brought up the rest of the gold, for the gar- 
dener had given him all the goods of which he 
was possessed. This he stored in jars as before, 
but when he asked about the ship, he was told 
that she sailed but once a year. Such was his 
unhappy case. 

As for the ship, she sailed on until she reached 
the City of Ebony and came to anchor there. 
Now it chanced that Badoura was sitting at her 
window looking out upon the sea. At the sight of 
the vessel her heart leaped, and riding down to the 
shore, she demanded of the captain what cargo he 
had brought. 

” O king,” said he to her, ” I have in my ship 
metals and rich cloths and rugs and perfumes 
and olives such as are rare in this country.” 

Then she said to him, ” How many olives hast 
thou?” 

And he answered, " Fifty bottles are filled with 
them, and as the owner is not with us, the king is 
free to help himself.” 


[142] 


PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN 


" Bring them ashore,” said she ; and when she 
had tasted them she said, '' I will take the fifty 
jars and pay thee what they are worth.” 

” O my lord,” said the master of the ship, " the 
owner is a poor man, and in this country the olives 
are worth a thousand dirhams.” 

" I will pay that sum for them,” said Badoura, 
and ordered the sailors to carry the bottles to 
the palace. 

When it was time for the evening meal she 
called for a bottle and opened it, there being no 
one in the room but herself and Hayat al-Nufus. 
A dish was placed before them, and Badoura emp- 
tied the bottle into it ; whereupon there fell out a 
heap of red gold. So she sent in haste for the 
other bottles, and lo ! there were few olives but 
much of the precious metal. Moreover, among 
the coins she spied the talisman which her mother 
had given to her to protect her from harm. When 
she saw this she cried out with joy and showed it 
to Hayat al-Nufus, saying: " This is a good omen. 
I shall soon see my beloved husband.” 

The next day, as soon as it was light, Badoura 
sent for the master of the ship and said to him, 
" Where is the owner of the olives that I bought ? ” 
And he said, ” O king of the age, we left him in 

[ 143 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


the land of the Magians, where he is employed as 
a gardener.” 

" Bring him hither,” she commanded, " or evil 
shall befall you and your ship.” 

Then she said to the merchants, " I have a claim 
upon the owner of these olives and unless you bring 
him to me, none of your goods shall be sold.” 

So the merchants went to the captain and 
promised to pay him if he would go a second 
time, saying, ” Deliver us from this tyrant of a 
king ! ” Accordingly the ship set sail again and 
returned to the island of the Magians. 

Now it happened that when the ship came to 
anchor Camaralzaman was in his garden, unable 
to sleep because of grief at what had befallen him. 
And as he bewailed his lot the captain knocked 
at the gate. The young man opened to him and 
was immediately seized by the crew, who carried 
him to the ship. For many days they sailed, and 
during all this time Camaralzaman was at a loss 
to discover why he was thus dealt with. When he 
questioned the sailors they answered, ” Thou hast 
offended the lord of the Ebony Islands and hast 
stolen his money, and that is why we have had 
to come back for thee, miserable creature that 
thou art!” 


[144] 


PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN 


” How can that be,” asked Camaralzaman, "when 
I never saw the man or his islands, nor do I even 
know in what part of the ocean they lie ? ” 

At length they came to the Ebony Islands, and 
the prince was carried into the presence of the 
king, whom he failed to recognize as his wife. 
Seeing this, Badoura schooled her heart to 
patience and gave him no hint as to why she had 
sent for him. She bestowed upon him slaves and 
mamelukes and camels and mules. Moreover, she 
gave to him large sums of money and advanced 
him from office to office until he was lord high 
treasurer and had in his care all the riches of the 
state. Camaralzaman could not understand the 
king’s favor, but he devoted himself to the service 
of the people until he was greatly trusted and 
beloved. 

One day the supposed king sent for her lord 
high treasurer and begged to know the reason for 
the sadness and gravity of his face and manner. 

" O king,” he answered her, " thou hast over- 
whelmed me with thy bounty, and I would not 
seem ungrateful, but there is no happiness for 
me until I have found my wife. It will fill the 
measure of thy kindness to me if thou wilt take 
back all that thou hast been pleased to bestow 

[145] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

upon me, and permit me to go my way.” And 
he told her of the lost talisman. 

When Badoura saw that his love for her was 
still strong and true, she knew that the time had 
come for her to reveal herself to him. She showed 
him the talisman, and they told each other all that 
had happened from beginning to end. The next 
day they sent for King Armanus, who was greatly 
astonished at the story and bade them have it 
recorded in letters of gold. 

Then said the old man to Camaralzaman, " O 
king’s son, wilt thou consent to become my son- 
in-law by taking Hayat al-Nufus also for thy wife.f^ 
Thou shalt rule over my people even as Badoura 
has done.” 

" I must consult Queen Badoura,” he answered, 
" for I owe her more than I can ever repay.” 

So he told her what King Armanus had said, 
and she consented, saying, "It is well. Marry her 
also, and I will be her loving sister-wife, since I am 
in her debt for much kindness and understanding.” 

King Armanus heard this with much satisfac- 
tion and went forth to relate the whole story to 
his people. Everybody rejoiced when Camaralza- 
man became king. Alms were distributed among 
the poor, and all the prisoners were set free. 

[146] 


PRINCE C AM ARALZAM AN 

Many years passed in peace and happiness, for all 
former sorrows were forgotten. One day, however, 
it chanced that King Camaralzaman was travel- 
ing with a portion of his army, when behold ! 
he came upon two other hosts which seemed to 
inclose the whole land like a wall. These armies 
were led by King Shahriman and the king of 
China, who in their grief had spent their time in 
far countries vainly searching for their children. 

When Camaralzaman heard that his father was 
so near he cried out with a loud cry and ran to 
meet him, embracing the old man with tears of 
joy. They all remained for a full month’s time in 
the City of Ebony, after which Camaralzaman, 
with the consent of King Armanus, made his 
young son king in his place and returned with 
King Shahriman to the Khalidan Islands. The 
capital was decorated in their honor, and Cama- 
ralzaman took up the government of the king- 
dom. Nor did he cease to occupy his father’s 
throne, ruling with judgment and wisdom, until 
they were parted by the destroyer of delights and 
the separator of companions. And Allah knoweth 
all things ! 


[147] 



THE ENCHANTED HORSE 


"^HERE was in ancient times, in the country 
of the Persians, a mighty king who had one 
son and three beautiful daughters. It was 
the custom in that country to observe every year 
two festivals — that of the New Year and that of 
the autumnal equinox. At these times the king 
would open his palaces, reward the worthy, pardon 
the offenders, and receive the congratulations of 
his people. 

On a certain day during one of these festivals 
three sages appeared before him : one had a pea- 
cock of gold, the second a trumpet of brass, and 
the third a horse made of ebony and ivory. 

The king said to the sages, ” What are these 
things, and what is their use?” 

[148] 


THE ENCHANTED HORSE 

The owner of the peacock said, '' Whenever an 
hour of the night or the day passes, this bird will 
flap its wings and utter a cry.” 

The owner of the trumpet said, " If my trumpet 
is placed at the gate of the city, it will act as de- 
fender of it, for when an enemy attempts to enter, 
it will send forth a warning sound.” 

The owner of the horse said, " O my lord, the 
use of this horse is that if any man mount it, it 
will carry him wherever he desires to go.” 

Upon this the king said, ” I will make trial of 
all these things.” 

Then he made trial of the peacock and found 
that it was as its owner had said. And he made 
trial of the trumpet and found it as its owner 
had said. He then said to these two sages, " Ask 
of me what favor you will.” And they replied, 
" Give each of us one of thy daughters in mar- 
riage.” Whereupon the king gave them two of 
his daughters. 

Then the third sage came forward and said, " O 
king, bestow upon me a like favor.” 

" When I shall have made trial of the horse,” 
said the king. 

Upon this the king’s son came forward and 
said, " O my father, let me mount the horse and 

[149] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


make trial of it, lest we disgrace our house by per- 
mitting my only remaining sister to marry a mere 
juggler.” And the king said, "Try it, my son, as 
thou desirest.” 

The king’s son accordingly mounted the horse 
and urged it forward, but it would not move. 

" O sage,” said he, " what is this ? Does this 
seem to thee a rapid pace ? ” 

"Turn the peg,” said the owner of the horse, 
pointing out a wooden pin which was on its neck. 
And when the prince had turned it, the horse 
moved and rose with him toward the sky. 

Then was the king’s son greatly alarmed and 
bitterly did he repent his desire to make trial of 
the horse. He examined the steed carefully to find, 
if possible, another peg which might control its 
rapid flight, but none was to be seen. At last he 
discovered two screws, one upon each shoulder 
of the horse. When he turned one of these he 
shot upward with increasing swiftness so that he 
could scarcely keep his seat. Instantly he grasped 
the other screw and found, to his delight, that as 
he turned it his upward flight was stopped and 
he began to descend. He ceased not to descend 
for a whole day, for in his ascent the earth had 
become distant from him. And as he descended he 
[150] 








THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

found that he could guide his horse whithersoever 
he desired. 

Now as he came nearer the earth he discovered 
countries and cities which he had never before 
seen, and among them was a beautiful city in the 
midst of a green valley. 

" Here will I spend the night,” said the prince, 
"and in the morning I will return to my father 
and tell him of my strange adventure.” 

Accordingly he began to search for a safe shel- 
ter and soon saw in the center of the city a palace 
rising high into the air and guarded by strong walls. 

" This place is attractive,” said he to himself, 
and dismounted upon the palace roof. Here he 
waited until he was sure that the inmates were 
asleep, and then, being both hungry and thirsty, 
he went down a flight of steps into the building 
to look for something to eat. 

After roaming about in the dark for a long time 
he found himself in a dimly lighted room, where 
some slave girls were sleeping. Beyond, on a 
couch, lay a beautiful princess, who started up in 
terror at his approach. She was, however, soon 
soothed by his courtesy and kindness. 

" Perhaps,” said she to him, " thou art he who 
demanded me yesterday in marriage of my father, 
[152] 


THE ENCHANTED HORSE 


and who was rejected because he was disagreeable 
in appearance. Surely my father is mistaken, for 
thou art none other than a handsome person.” 

But the slave girls said : " This is not the man, 

0 our mistress. Verily this youth is of high rank, 
and the other was not fit to be his servant.” 

At this moment came the king, who had been 
aroused by a frightened slave, and who rushed 
upon the young man as if he would kill him. 

" How is it,” he cried out in anger, " that thou art 
come into my palace without permission ? Have 

1 not refused all who would take my daughter from 
me in marriage, and shall I suffer thee to escape 
with her by stealth ? ” 

But the prince said: ” Verily I wonder at thee. 
Dost thou ask for thy daughter a husband of 
nobler birth than I am? Hast thou seen any one 
whom thou canst truly say is a better man ? ” 

"No, young man,” answered the king, craftily; 
"but I would have thee ask me for the princess 
publicly.” 

"Thou hast said well,” said the prince; "but 
when thy servants and thy slaves and thy soldiers 
are assembled and when they fall upon me and 
kill me, thou wilt be disgraced in the eyes of all 
honest men. If, however, thou wilt permit me to 

[153] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

meet them in fair combat, the result will save thine 
honor, for should I overcome and subdue them all, 
then am I proved to be such a man as the king 
would choose for a son-in-law.” 

The king was astonished beyond measure at 
the young man’s speech and said to him, ” The 
number of my horsemen is forty thousand, besides 
the slaves belonging to me and their followers, 
who are equal in number.” 

" When the day dawns,” said the prince, " send 
them forth to meet me and say to them, 'This 
person has asked for the hand of my daughter in 
marriage on condition that he overcomes and sub- 
dues you all and that you cannot prevail against 
him. ’ ” 

" So be it,” said the king. 

He then called his vizier and commanded him 
to collect all the troops and to mount them upon 
their horses. Then said the young man : " O king, 
thou dost not treat me fairly. How shall I go forth 
on foot to overcome thy people who are mounted 
on horses ? Send me, then, the horse on which I 
came.” 

" Where is thy horse ? ” the king asked him. 

"It is on the roof of thy palace,” answered the 
prince. 


[ 154] 


THE ENCHANTED HORSE 

Nay, how can that be? ” cried the king. But he 
sent one of his chief officers, saying, " Bring down 
what thou shalt find upon the roof of the palace.” 

So the officer went up to the roof and found 
there the horse made of ebony and ivory. And 
when the other officers saw it they laughed and 
said, '' The young man is a madman.” But they 
lifted the horse and carried it down the stairs and 
placed it before the king. And the people gazed 
at it and were amazed at its beauty and the rich- 
ness of its bridle and saddle. 

Then said the young man, '' O king, I am going 
to mount my horse and charge upon thine army.” 

Do as thou wilt,” said the king, and pity 
them not, for they will not pity thee.” 

So the prince seated himself firmly upon his 
horse and turned the peg. As the king saw the 
young man ascend into the sky he cried out to his 
troops, Take him before he escapes!” But the 
vizier said : O king, can we catch the flying bird ? 
This is a great enchanter. Rejoice, therefore, that 
thou hast escaped from his hand.” 

Then the king returned to his daughter and told 
her what had happened, and she mourned greatly 
for the young man, saying, I will not eat or drink 
till he is brought back to me.” Such was her case. 

[ 155 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

The prince, meantime, was pursuing his journey 
and came before long within sight of his native 
city. Turning the other peg, he swiftly descended 
and found himself in his own home. Great was 
the rejoicing at his return, but after a little time 
the young man was overcome with longing to 
see again his beloved princess, so, mounting the 
enchanted horse, he flew back to her father’s 
palace. 

There he went about searching for her from 
room to room until at last he found her ill in bed 
in a remote part of the palace, surrounded by her 
slaves and nurses. And she said to him, " How 
couldst thou leave me ? ” 

O princess,” said he, " wilt thou listen to my 
words and comply with my wishes ? ” 

And she said, I will not oppose thee in any- 
thing.” 

Then,” said he, come with me to my country 
and my kingdom.” 

” I obey most willingly,” she answered him. 

Having taken her by the hand, he led her up 
to the roof of the palace and mounted his horse ; 
then, placing her behind him, he turned the peg 
and soared with her into the sky, while, below, her 
father and mother cried out to her to return. 

[ 150 ] 


THE ENCHANTED HORSE 


Fairest lady,” said the king’s son, tenderly, 
" dost thou wish me to restore thee to thy father 
and mother ? ” 

O my master,” she answered, '' I am content 
to go with thee.” 

Then the king’s son rejoiced exceedingly, and 
the horse began to move with great swiftness, and 
they ceased not to journey until they arrived at 
their destination. This was a garden near the 
royal palace, and here the maiden was left while 
the prince went to prepare for her reception. 

Now it happened that while the princess and 
the enchanted horse were waiting in the garden, 
the Persian sage drew near to collect some use- 
ful herbs. When he saw the horse his heart was 
filled with triumph, and he approached the lady 
boldly. 

Who art thou ? ” she said to him, ” and what 
art thou doing here ? ” 

O princess,” he answered, I am the mes- 
senger of the prince. He is coming to thee shortly 
with his father, and he desires thee to wait for him 
in another part of the garden.” 

So the damsel arose and went with him, and he 
placed her upon the horse and turned the peg and 
ascended with her until the city was out of sight. 

[ 157] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


" O woe to thee ! ” cried the damsel. Thou 
hast disobeyed thy master.” 

He is not my master,” said the sage, and thou 
hast fallen into the snare which I set for thee. I 
have sighed constantly for this horse, for it is of 
my making. Now I have obtained possession of 
it and of thee, and I will torture the young man’s 
heart as he has tortured mine. But be not afraid ; 

I shall be more useful to thee than he can be.” 

When the damsel heard these words she cried 
aloud in her distress, but no one could hear her 
outcry, for the magic horse was rapidly leaving the 
earth behind. 

After a time the sage guided the horse down- 
ward again, and they alighted in a green meadow 
near a city of the Greeks. Now it happened that 
the king of the city had gone forth to hunt and 
saw the sage standing in the meadow with the 
horse and the damsel by his side. And when the 
king beheld his disagreeable face and her exceed- 
ing beauty, he said to the lady, ” What relation is 
this person to thee ? ” 

O king,” she answered, I know him not. He 
has taken me away by force and craftiness.” 

When the king heard these words he com- ’ 
manded his men to lay hands upon the sage and 
[158] 


THE ENCHANTED HORSE 


cast him into prison, and so they did with him. 
Meanwhile the king took the damsel and the 
horse to his palace, though no one knew that it 
was an enchanted horse or understood the secret 
of its motion. 

As for the prince, when he had collected a suit- 
able escort he rode back to the garden for his 
beloved princess, but he found her not nor could 
he find any trace of his horse. Then he sought 
the keepers of the garden, saying, "'Have you seen 
any one enter the garden ? ” And they answered, 
"No one except the Persian sage, who entered to 
collect useful herbs.” Then he knew that the 
sage had taken the damsel. 

The prince was now in a sad state of anxiety 
and distress. From town to town and from city 
to city he journeyed, seeking some word of his 
enchanted horse and of his beloved lady. And it 
chanced one evening, at an inn, that he overheard 
some merchants talking of a beautiful damsel and 
a strange horse that had been found near a cer- 
tain city. Then the prince approached the mer- 
chants courteously and begged them to tell him 
the name of the city and of its king, and when 
he had learned the names he went forth again 
on his journey. 


[159] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


After a while the prince arrived at the city, 
where he learned of the beautiful damsel and of 
the curious ebony horse and of the ugly sage. 
" But the woman has lost her reason,” he was told, 
"and though the king desires to marry her, he 
must first find a physician who will cure her. If 
the sage were as great as he pretends to be, he 
might find a remedy for her illness, but so far no 
one has been able to help her.” 

These words suggested to the prince a plan by 
which he might gain his heart’s desire. Having 
disguised himself, he asked to be admitted to the 
king’s presence and said to him : " I am a physi- 
cian of the country of Persia, and I cure the sick, 
and folk whose minds are distracted. For this 
purpose I travel from city to city, seeking to 
add to my knowledge and to heal those who 
ask my aid.” 

Then the king rejoiced exceedingly. " O wise 
physician,” he exclaimed eagerly, " thou art come 
at a time when we need thee.” He went on to 
tell the prince the whole story of his finding 
the damsel and of her madness and of the sage 
whom he had cast into prison. 

" And what, O king,” asked the prince, " hast 
thou done with the horse It is my opinion that 
[i6o] 


THE ENCHANTED HORSE 

I should first see that, for I may find in it some- 
thing that may help me to cure the lady.” 

Thereupon the king led him to the room where 
the horse had been placed, and the prince satisfied 
himself that it was in good condition. 

” Now,” said he, " lead me to the lady, that I may 
drive away her madness and restore her to herself.” 

The prince found her wringing her hands and 
tearing her garments into tatters, but he saw at 
once that her behavior was only a pretense. He 
began to address her courteously and gently, un- 
til he could make known to her who he was. When 
she knew him she uttered a cry and fell at his feet, 
and as he raised her he whispered : " Be patient 
and calm, for we must be careful if we would 
escape from this place. When the king comes to 
inquire for thee, speak to him with pleasant words 
and show no fear of him; then all will be well.” 

" I hear and I obey,” said the lady, and straight- 
way he left her to tell the king the news of her 
recovery. 

O king,” said he, I have, by good fortune, 
discovered what is the matter with the lady and 
have cured her for thee. If thou wilt treat her 
kindly and promise her whatever she asks of 
thee, all will go well.” 

[ ibi ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


At this the king was filled with joy and ordered 
the slave women to go to her and prepare her for 
his visit. So they went in and she met them with 
pleasant words, even as she did the king when 
she received him. 

Then the prince said : " The recovery of the 
lady is not yet complete. She must go forth to 
the place where she was found, under the guard 
of all thy soldiers, and the ebony horse must be 
taken there also, so that I may wholly free her 
from her enchantment.” 

Accordingly the king and all his soldiers went 
forth with the damsel and the ebony horse to the 
meadow, and the prince said to the king: "With 
thy permission I will burn perfumes and mount 
the ebony horse, taking the damsel behind me. 
Then it will sway to and fro and go forward until 
it comes to rest. After this the genie who now 
torments her will be driven away forever.” 

" Do as thou wilt,” said the king. 

So the prince burned great quantities of per- 
fume and seated himself and the damsel upon the 
ebony horse, and as the smoke rose he turned the 
peg and the horse ascended into the air. When 
the smoke cleared away they were at a great 
height above the meadow, and the king with all 
[162] 


THE ENCHANTED HORSE 


his soldiers waited half a day for their return. 
Finding that there was no hope of this, the king 
took his troops and went back to the city. 

He then sent for the Persian sage and said to 
him : '' O thou traitor, why didst thou hide from 
me the secret of the ebony horse? For now one 
craftier than thou has carried it off, together with 
the damsel, and we shall never see any of them 
again.” Whereupon he shut himself up in his 
palace, and many days went by before he was 
comforted. 

In the meantime the prince hastened to his 
father’s kingdom in joy and triumph. And when 
he arrived there great feasts were made in honor 
of his return, and the people ceased not to rejoice 
for the space of a whole month. 

But the king, his father, broke the ebony horse 
and destroyed its power. Messengers were sent 
to the damsel’s father, telling him of her safety 
and happiness, and every year presents were ex- 
changed and letters were written by the joyful 
prince and the parents of his lovely wife. Thus 
they remained, until visited by the dread separator 
of loving companions, the angel of death. 


[163] 


GULNARE OF THE SEA 


^HERE was, in olden times, in the land 
of the Persians, a king named Shahzeman. 
His palace was a place of great splendor, 
and he had slaves and jewels beyond number, 
yet he was lonely and unhappy because he had 
neither son nor daughter of his own. 

Now one day one of his mamelukes came to 
him and said, " O my lord, at the door is a mer- 
chant with a slave girl, and she is more beautiful 
than the moon.” And the king replied, " Bring 
them to me.” 

i 

The merchant and the girl therefore came to 
him, and when the merchant uncovered her face 
the whole place was lighted up with her beauty, 
and the king was amazed at her loveliness. He 
said to the merchant, " O sheik, for how much is 
she to be sold ? ” 


GULNARE OF THE SEA 


And the merchant answered, ” She has cost 
me three thousand pieces of gold, and she is a 
present from me to thee.” 

Upon this the king thanked him and gave him 
a robe of honor and ten thousand pieces of gold. 
Then he gave orders that the damsel should be 
treated with all respect and honor. And her 
maidens led her into a chamber which had win- 
dows overlooking the sea, and the king com- 
manded his chamberlains to close the doors upon 
her after taking to her all that she needed. 

The king then went in to visit the damsel, but 
she sat by the window and took no notice of him. 
So the king said, "It is plain that she has lived 
with people who have not taught her good man- 
ners.” But the sweetness and beauty of her face 
were so great that he could not be angry with 
her. He gave orders to bring the choicest food, 
but though she rose and sat at table with him, she 
would not speak a single word. The king talked 
gently to her, asking her name, but she made him 
no answer. 

For many days this went on, and still she did 
not speak. Because of her gentle ways and her 
tender face the king loved her greatly and took 
her for his wife. He said to her one day: " O my 
[165] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


love, I have now been patient with thee for a 
whole year. I beg that thou wilt speak, if only 
one word ; or if thou art dumb, tell me by a sign, 
that I may give up hope of hearing thy voice. If 
thou lovest me, make me some reply.” 

Then to his exceeding joy the damsel raised 
her head and smiled at him so that the room 
seemed lighted up. And she said to him, " O great 
king, thou hast indeed been patient with me and 
thou mayst look for a fitting reward.” 

And when the king heard what she said his 
face shone and he went forth in a state of happi- 
ness. He ordered the vizier to give out to the 
poor and needy ’a hundred thousand pieces of 
gold as a thank offering. And after that the king 
went back to the damsel and sat with her and 
begged her to tell him the cause of her long 
silence. 

The damsel answered, " O king of the age, I 
was a poor, broken-hearted stranger.” 

" Thou art no longer poor,” said the king, " for 
all my kingdoms and my possessions are thine, 
and I am only thy mameluke.” 

Again the damsel smiled at him and went on : 
" My name is Gulnare of the Sea. My father was 
one of the kings of the sea and he died, and left 
[166] 




THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

his kingdom to his children. But I quarreled with 
my brother and said that I would rather trust 
myself with the men of the land. Then I came 
forth from the sea and sat upon the shore in the 
moonlight, and there came by a man, who took 
me and sold me to the merchant who gave me 
to thee. 

"He was a good and honorable man, kind and 
benevolent. But had not thy heart loved me truly, 
I should have cast myself into the sea from this 
window and returned to my people. I was ashamed 
at first to go to them, lest they should not believe 
me when I told them that a king had made me 
his wife in preference to all others. This is my 
story, and may peace be upon thee ! ” 

When the king heard her words he thanked 
her and kissed her between the eyes. " But thy 
people,” he said to her, "how is it that they can 
live in the sea ? ” 

She answered: "We walk in the sea as men 
walk upon the land, and we see the sun and the 
moon and the stars as you do. There are many 
peoples and various creatures in the sea; indeed, 
all that is on the land compared with what is in 
the sea is a very small matter.” And the king 
wondered at her words. 

[ i68 ] 


GULNARE OF THE SEA 

Then the queen called for a pan of fire and 
threw into it a bit of wood while she spake cer- 
tain words that no one could understand. O my 
lord,” she said to the king, "conceal thyself now 
in a closet, for I am about to show thee my brother 
and my mother and my cousins.” So the king 
concealed himself in a closet and watched to see 
what she would do. 

She proceeded to burn perfume and to repeat 
words of magic until the sea foamed and there 
came forth from it a young man of handsome 
countenance, followed by a gray-haired woman 
and five young girls. They walked upon the 
surface of the water and at length drew near 
the window where Gulnare was waiting to greet 
them. On seeing her they flew into the room 
and embraced her with every sign of affection 
and delight, while they questioned her as to all 
that had happened to her. 

So she told them her story. And when she had 
finished, her brother said : " Praise be to Allah, who 
has brought us together again ! Come now, O my 
sister, and return with us to thine own country.” 

When the king heard the words of the brother 
he was filled with fear lest his wife should leave 
him. But Gulnare said : " O my brother, the king 
[169] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

is a great king, a man of honor and wisdom and 
generosity. He has treated me with all kindness 
from the day I came to him until now, and I am 
content and happy. Besides, if I were to go with 
you, he would die, so great is his affection for me.” 

Then her mother said, " O Gulnare, thou know- 
est that we love thee, but if thou art happy here, 
it is not our wish to take thee away.” And Gul- 
nare answered, " I am wholly happy and content.” 
On hearing the queen speak thus the king thanked 
her in his heart, for he knew that she loved him 
as he loved her and that she wished to remain 
with him. 

Then Gulnare gave orders to her women to 
bring choice food of all kinds for her guests, and 
she and her family sat down to eat together. But 
presently they said to her, " O Gulnare, the king 
is a stranger to us, and we have entered his house 
without his permission, and we have eaten his 
food, but we have not yet seen him.” And they 
all stopped eating and were angry with her, and 
fire began to come from their mouths in a terrible 
manner. 

The king was alarmed for his wife’s safety, but 
she soothed her guests and promised them that 
they should see her husband at once. So she led 
[170] 


GULNARE OF THE SEA 

him forth from the closet, and they hastened to 
rise and salute him in the most polite manner. 
The king urged them to remain, but after a visit 
of thirty days, during which they were treated 
with all honor and courtesy, they returned to their 
own home. 

Before long the happiness of the king and 
queen was greatly increased by the birth of a 
beautiful boy. For seven days the whole city re- 
joiced, and on the seventh day there came again 
to the palace the mother and brother and cousins 
of Gulnare. The king met them, saying, " I said 
that I would not name my son until you should 
come, and that he should be named according to 
your wishes.” 

And they named him Beder, which means " the 
full moon.” Then they presented the boy to his 
uncle Saleh, who walked about the palace to the 
right and to the left with the child in his arms. 
Suddenly Saleh leaped from the window and dis- 
appeared in the sea. The king was in despair, but 
Gulnare, seeing him in this state, went to him and 
said : " O king of the age, fear not for thy son. I 
love him even more than thou lovest him, but I 
know that presently he will be safe with us again 
if it be the will of Allah, whose name be exalted.” 

[ ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

In a short time, as she had said, the sea foamed 
and the young man flew into the room with the 
little one in his arms. " O king,” he said, " perhaps 
thou hadst fear in thy heart for thy son. There 
was no danger, or I should not have taken him 
from thee. We have applied to his eyes a lotion 
that we know of and repeated over him the 
names which are engraved upon the seal of Solo- 
mon, for when a child is born among us we 
do to him as I have told thee. Now you need 
never fear drowning for him, for even as you 
walk upon the land he shall be able to walk upon 
the sea.” 

Then he took from his pocket a case of jewels 
and gems, which were more brilliant than the sun 
and the moon. And he said, " O king, these are a 
present from me to thee, and every few days will 
I bring thee one like unto it, for these jewels are 
more plentiful with us than are the sands of the 
shore.” 

When the king looked at the hundreds of shin- 
ing gems he was bewildered, and said, ” One such 
jewel is worth my kingdom ! ” Then he thanked 
Saleh of the Sea and said, " I am abashed at this 
magnificent present, which the people of the earth 
could never equal.” 


[172] 


GULNARE OF THE SEA 


Then said Saleh of the Sea : " O king of the age, 
we desire that we may have thy permission to de- 
part, for we wish to see again our family and our 
homes. To quit thee is not pleasant to our hearts, 
but how else can we act when we were reared to 
live in the sea ? ” 

So the king rose to his feet and bade farewell 
to the young man and to his mother and cousins, 
and they flew toward the sea and disappeared. 

Beder increased daily in strength and wisdom. 
He learned writing and reading and history and 
grammar and archery, and he also learned horse- 
manship and all that the sons of kings should 
know. And when in time the golden crown was 
placed upon his head, he seated himself upon the 
throne of his kingdom and judged between the 
strong and the weak, the rich and the poor. 
He heard all who had anything to say to him, 
and he never refused to see that justice was done. 
The people loved him exceedingly, and he ceased 
not to live in this manner until he was visited by 
the destroyer of delights and the separator of 
companions. 


[173] 



PRINCE AHMED AND THE FAIRY 
PERIBANOU 


^HERE was once a sultan of India named 
Mirza, who had three excellent sons and 
a beautiful niece. The eldest prince was 
named Houssain, the second Ali, and the youngest 
Ahmed. The princess was called Nouronnihar, 
or "light of day.” In goodness, beauty, wit, and 
wisdom she was the most famous of all the maidens 
of her time. The sultan had made up his mind to 
give her in marriage to some neighboring king, 
but when she arrived at a suitable age each of her 
cousins was in love with her. This caused Mirza 
much distress, for they could not all marry the 
princess, and he could not endure to see any of 
them disappointed and unhappy. At length he 
called the three princes to him, and said : " O 
my sons, I have thought of a plan by which 
your brotherly love for one another will not be 

[174] 


PRINCE AHMED AND PERIBANOU 

destroyed, and one of you shall win the princess 
for his bride. Go you forth and travel to distant 
countries for a year, each by himself, and bring 
back to me the most wonderful thing to be found 
in your wanderings. He who shall find the rarest 
curiosity shall be the husband of Nouronnihar.” 

The three princes consented to this proposal, 
for each was certain that he should win the prin- 
cess. So the sultan gave to each a large sum of 
money and bade them depart without delay. Ac- 
cordingly the three brothers disguised themselves 
as merchants, and taking a suitable number of 
attendants, they mounted their horses and rode 
away. For a while they followed the same road, 
but when they reached a place where it branched 
off in three different directions, they decided to 
take their separate ways. Having supped together 
in great friendliness, they arranged to meet, when 
the year had passed, at the same inn, so that they 
might return to their father in company. The 
next morning, at dawn, they embraced one another 
and rode away, each by a different road. 

Now Prince Houssain had heard much of the 
kingdom of Bisnagar and for a long time had 
wished to visit it, so he joined a caravan which 
chanced to be traveling in that direction. After 

[ 175 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


a journey of three months he arrived in safety at 
the capital and lodged at the inn appointed for 
foreign merchants. He found that the city con- 
tained a large central bazaar, or market, where men 
bought and sold all manner of curious things. It 
was divided into many streets, roofed over, and 
lighted by skylights, and the shops were all of 
the same size and shape. Within these shops 
were various kinds of goods — silks and satins 
from Persia, exquisite linens and muslins, porce- 
lains, glass, and tapestries, besides gold and silver 
ornaments, and precious stones without number. 

One day as Houssain was strolling to and fro 
he became tired and sat down to rest in the door- 
way of a friendly shopkeeper. Presently he saw 
a dealer who was holding a small square of carpet 
and crying, " This is for sale for forty thousand 
gold pieces ! ” 

At this the prince wondered exceedingly and 
said to the dealer, " Thy carpet must have some 
special merit, that such a price is put upon it.” 

" O my lord,” said the dealer, " my master has 
ordered me not to sell it for less. And it is, 
indeed, a most wonderful carpet, for he who sits 
upon it may be carried in a moment wherever 
he wishes to go.” 


[176] 


PRINCE AHMED AND PERIBANOU 

The prince at once said to himself, "If this is 
true, I can take nothing more wonderful to the 
sultan.” Then, turning to the broker, he said, 
" How may I be sure that thy rug possesses this 
marvelous quality ? ” 

" Seat thyself with me upon the tapestry,” said 
the dealer, " and at thy mere wish it shall' carry 
thee to the inn. There, if thou art convinced that 
what I say is true, thou canst give me the gold 
and the carpet shall be thine.” 

Accordingly the man spread out his carpet on 
the ground behind the shop, and sat down upon 
it with the prince beside him. In an instant, at 
the mere wish of the prince, the magic carpet rose 
into the air and transported them to the inn, where 
the price agreed upon was counted out. Houssain 
longed to return at once and marry his beloved 
princess, but his agreement to join his brothers 
was not to be broken, so he contented himself in 
the city as best he could until the appointed time. 
At length the day came, and spreading his carpet 
upon the ground, he wished that he might be 
carried to the inn where the three were to meet 
one another. 

Meanwhile Prince Ali had also joined a caravan 
and had traveled toward Persia. After a march of 

[177] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


four months he arrived at the capital, where he 
passed most of his time with the merchants of the 
bazaar. One day he saw among the dealers who 
were crying their wares a man holding an ivory 
tube, which he was offering for forty thousand 
ashrafis. 

” My friend,” said Prince Ali to one of the shop- 
keepers, " is that man mad to ask such a sum for 
a little pipe of ivory } ” 

" O my lord,” answered the shopkeeper, ” if he 
asks forty thousand ashrafis for the tube, it must 
be worth that sum. However, let us see with our 
own eyes.” 

Accordingly the merchant beckoned to the crier 
and said to him, '' O man, all the folk are amazed 
to hear thee ask such a price for that little pipe, 
and this friend of mine is certain that thou art 
crazy. ” 

The broker showed no anger at these words, but 
said: ''O my lord, examine well this tube. It is 
furnished at each end with a piece of glass, and if 
thou wilt look through it, thou wilt see whatever 
it is thy wish to look upon.” 

Prince Ali silently wished to see his father, and 
immediately he saw the sultan sitting upon his 
throne. Then he longed to look upon the princess, 
[178] 


PRINCE AHMED AND PERIBANOU 

and at once he saw her talking and laughing 
with her waiting- women. The prince was aston- 
ished at all this and said to himself, If I should 
search the whole world over, I should never find 
anything so precious as this pipe of ivory.” Then 
said he to the broker, " This pipe is as thou hast 
described, and here is the money.” 

Now we will see what happened to the youngest 
brother. Prince Ahmed took the road to Samar- 
kand, where he lived for some time enjoying the 
sights of that city. One day as he wandered about 
the bazaar he came across a dealer who was offer- 
ing a magic apple for sale, and calling, " Who will 
buy this apple for forty thousand gold pieces ? ” 

Quoth Prince Ahmed, ” Let me see the fruit, 
and explain to me what hidden merit it has to 
make it so valuable.” 

Then said the other : " When I have done so 
thou wilt gladly give me a treasure house of gold 
in exchange for it, for it is, indeed, the most won-' 
derful thing in the world. Know, O merchant, that 
merely to smell this apple will cure any disease, 
and hundreds of ailing folk have I made well by 
means of it. It was manufactured by a wise man 
whose own life came to an end when he was far 
from the apple that would have saved him. His 
[ 1 / 9 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


widow is poor and wishes to sell it in order to buy 
food for her children, but all the people about here 
will tell you that what I have said is true.” 

Having satisfied himself that the apple had the 
magic property that the dealer had claimed for it, 
Prince Ahmed counted out the price demanded 
and set off for home, feeling sure that no other 
treasure could be compared to what he had found. 
After a long and wearisome journey he reached 
the inn where his brothers were now waiting for 
him, each eager to display his gift. 

" Behold,” said Prince Houssain, " this carpet 
that I have bought in Bisnagar! It is, perhaps, a 
small matter to look at, but should I desire to visit 
any corner of the earth, I have only to seat myself 
upon my piece of tapestry and in a moment I shall 
be carried wherever I wish to go.” 

Then said Prince Ali : O my brother, this is 
indeed a marvelous carpet, but I have bought for 
■forty thousand ashrafis a treasure whose merits are 
beyond price. See, here is a small ivory tube. By 
means of it a man may see whatever he desires to 
look upon, even if it is at the end of the world.” 

At these words Prince Houssain took the spy- 
ing tube from Prince Ali and wished in his heart 
that he might see the princess, while his brothers 
[i8o] 


PRINCE AHMED AND PERIBANOU 

watched him to see what he would say. Suddenly 
he grew pale and cried aloud : "Alas, ’t is all in vain ! 
None of us will win our lovely cousin, for she is 
at the point of death. If you would see her again, 
take one final look while she yet lives.” 

Ali and Ahmed each took a hasty glance through 
the tube and saw that their brother’s words were 
only too true. The next moment Ahmed cried out : 
" I can save her if we can hasten to her without 
delay. In Samarkand I bought this apple for forty 
thousand gold pieces, and it will cure any disease, 
even though the sick person is dying. Let us go 
to her at once.” 

" That is an easy matter,” said Prince Houssain, 
" for my carpet will carry us thither in the twink- 
ling of an eye.” 

The three princes hastened to seat themselves 
upon the tapestry, and were immediately trans- 
ported to the apartment where Nouronnihar lay 
unconscious. The waiting-women and slaves were 
terrified at their sudden appearance, but without 
waiting to explain the intrusion. Prince Ahmed 
rushed forward and held the magic apple close to 
the face of the princess. Presently she opened her 
lovely eyes, and, as if she had waked from sleep, 
gave her cousins greeting. 

[i8ij 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

Rejoiced at her recovery, the princes took leave 
of her with all respect and went to seek their 
father. He embraced them tenderly and examined 
their gifts with the greatest interest, but when 
they urged him to give his judgment as to which 
of them had won the prize, he answered : " O my 
children, how can I justly decide this question? 
Had it not been for Ali’s spying tube, you would 
not have known of your cousin’s illness ; and had 
not the flying carpet brought you here, the magic 
apple would not have saved her life. I have another 
plan for awarding the prize. To-morrow come 
hither, each on his own steed and bringing bow 
and arrows for a contest of skill. To him who 
shoots farthest, I will surely give the princess.” 

According to their father’s wishes the three 
princes appeared at the appointed place, and when 
all was ready Prince Houssain, as the eldest, shot 
the first arrow. It traveled far along the level 
plain, but the shaft sent by Prince Ali went even 
farther. Prince Ahmed came last, but though he 
aimed in the same direction, his arrow, by the 
decree of fate, vanished from sight, and no man 
saw where it struck the ground. There were even 
some among the onlookers who said that Prince 
Ahmed had shot no arrow at all. At last, when 
[182] 


PRINCE AHMED AND PERIBANOU 

much time had been spent in vain, the king de- 
clared that the search should end, and that Nou- 
ronnihar should become the bride of Prince Ali. 

Prince Houssain’s disappointment was so great 
that he refused to attend the wedding festivities, 
and before long he retired from the world to be- 
come a dervish. As for Prince Ahmed, he spent 
the next few days in searching for the arrow that 
he had lost. Starting from the point where the 
arrow of Prince Ali had been found, Ahmed went 
straight forward, searching over hill and dale. At 
length, after traveling about nine miles, he sud- 
denly spied the missing shaft lying flat upon a 
rock ; whereupon he said to himself, ” There is 
some mystery here, for neither I nor any other 
man could send an arrow so far as this.” 

Making his way among the huge stones that 
lay about him, the prince came to an iron door 
which had no lock. As he pushed it open it re- 
vealed a wide and well-lighted courtyard. Beyond 
was a vast and splendid palace, from which there 
now came to meet him a lovely maiden dressed 
in queenly robes and shining with jewels. At 
sight of her Ahmed hastened to give her the 
salutation, which she returned, adding, " Thou art 
welcome, Prince Ahmed.” 

[183] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


The prince wondered greatly to hear her call 
him by his name, but she said with a smile: 
"Although I am a stranger to thee, I know who 
thou art, as thou shalt hear. I am a daughter of a 
prince of the jinn, and my name is Peribanou. I 
have full knowledge of all that concerns thee and 
thy brothers, even of the flying carpet, the spying 
tube, and the magic apple. In my affection for 
thee I stood by thy side in the archery trial, and 
when I found that thy shaft would fall short of 
Prince Ali’s, I caught it in my hand and carried 
it to the place where thou hast just discovered it. 
Ever since that day I have been waiting for thee 
to come in search of it.” 

When Prince Ahmed heard these words and 
looked upon the fairy’s sweet and modest face he 
forgot all his sorrow and disappointment. " O my 
lady,” he said to her, " thou art the fairest of the 
fair, and I am well content to serve thee and to 
be thy slave forever.” 

" I did not bring thee here,” she answered, " to 
be my slave, but to be my husband. Among us 
fairy folk it is the maiden’s right to choose the 
one who pleases her best, nor need we wait to 
be wooed and won before we speak of our 
affection.” 


[184] 


PRINCE AHMED AND PERIBANOU 

These words filled Prince Ahmed with joy, and 
taking her hand in his, he pledged his faith to her 
with all his heart. Then Peribanou said, Thou 
art now my husband, and I am thy faithful wife,” 
and led him into a magnificent room lighted with 
hundreds of candles set in candlesticks of the 
purest crystal. Here a wedding feast was served, 
and many days of merrymaking followed. 

Six months passed swiftly in this land of won- 
ders, but one day Prince Ahmed said to his wife, 
” Permit me to leave thee for a short time, if it be 
thy pleasure, for it is long since I saw my father 
and he must grieve at my absence.” 

On hearing these words Peribanou was dis- 
tressed, thinking that her husband was weary of 
his new home, but being at last convinced that 
Prince Ahmed’s heart was as true as steel, she 
gave him the permission he desired. Well pleased, 
he said to her, " O my beloved, I will surely re- 
turn to thee soon, for life without thee has no 
charms.” 

" Go, then,” said Peribanou, " but speak not to 
any one of thy marriage nor of the wonders that 
thou hast seen in this place. Tell thy father that 
thou art happy, and that thou hast returned to 
learn of his welfare.” 


[185] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


Mounting his horse and followed by a troop 
of horsemen, Prince Ahmed set forth and in 
time reached his father’s palace. Here he was 
received with the greatest rejoicing. The sultan 
rose from his throne and threw himself upon his 
son’s neck, crying out, " Where hast thou been all 
these days ? ” 

” O my lord,” said the prince, " I went a long 
way in search of my arrow, for I could not rest 
until I had found it, and in so doing I came upon 
the place where I have since lived in comfort and 
happiness. Ask me no more, for more I cannot 
tell thee, but be not disturbed about me. From 
time to time I will visit thee, and will ever cherish 
thee with a son’s affection.” 

"It is well,” said Mirza, " and I am satisfied. 
Only delay not thy visits too long, lest I become 
anxious about thee.” 

After a stay of three days the prince returned 
to his beloved Peribanou, who greeted him with 
exceeding joy. And every month, when the cres- 
cent moon appeared in the sky, the visit was re- 
peated. But after a while one of the viziers said 
to the sultan : " O my lord, art thou not too care- 
less of Prince Ahmed and his doings ? Dost thou 
not see how month by month his followers increase 
[186] 


PRINCE AHMED AND PERIBANOU 

in number and in magnificence ? What if he plans 
to seize thy kingdom and cast thee into prison? 
Doubtless he is ready to seek revenge for the loss 
of the princess Nouronnihar. I say to thee, Beware! 
lest thou fall a victim to his treachery.” 

These evil words sank deep into the heart of 
the simple-minded old king, and one day he called 
to him a certain witch, who could conjure down 
the very stars from heaven. Go thou,” he said 
to her, " and discover, if thou canst, where my son 
Ahmed makes his home. He is now in my pal- 
ace, but on the fourth day, without permission 
from me or my officers, he will mount his horse, 
summon his followers, and ride away. Follow him 
or lie in wait upon his path, and discover where 
he goes.” 

The witch therefore hid herself among the rocks 
near the place where Prince Ahmed had found his 
arrow, and before long she saw him coming along 
a narrow footpath. As she stood up to look after 
him he suddenly vanished from her sight and all 
his followers with him, and though she wandered 
far and wide, seeking the way by which they had 
gone, not a trace of them could she find. Then 
said the witch to herself, "Truly I have had no 
success in this matter,” and she went back to the 
[187] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


sultan to report her failure and to beg for more 
time to find out the mystery. 

The sultan said to her: " Be it as thou wilt. Take 
thy time and make thy search, but do not let him 
escape thee.” 

Now when the moon had waxed and waned and 
again the day drew near for the prince’s visit, the 
witch hid herself once more among the rocks, and 
this time was rewarded by the sight of Prince 
Ahmed and his knights riding through the door- 
way which up to this time had been invisible to 
her. As they passed her she fell to weeping and 
groaning so piteously that Prince Ahmed reined 
in his horse and asked her the cause of her sorrow. 

'' O my lord,” answered the witch, " I was jour- 
neying upon an errand when a fever seized me so 
that I lost all strength and fell here among these 
rocks.” 

" Alas ! ” said Prince Ahmed, " there is no house 
near by to which I can direct thee. However, I will 
not leave thee to suffer.” So saying, he directed 
one of his men to lift the woman upon a horse, 
and riding back with her through the iron door, 
he entered the palace and sent for Peribanou. 

The fairy, after one glance at the old woman, 
ordered her to be carried into the next room and 
[188] 


PRINCE AHMED AND PERIBANOU 


treated with all care and gentleness. Then she 
said to her husband : " O my lord, though thy 
kindness touches my heart, I fear some evil will 
come from it. This woman is deceiving us, but 
for what purpose I do not know. Go in peace 
upon thy journey, and I will do my best to avert 
the danger, if danger there should be.” 

Meanwhile the old witch had been placed upon 
a soft couch and a cup of healing essence had 
been brought to her. Presently, feeling confident 
that she had learned what the sultan wished to 
know, she rose to her feet, and said to the hand- 
maidens who had waited upon her: "That must 
have been a magic essence, for already am I re- 
stored to health and strength. But before I go 
on my way I would thank your mistress for her 
courtesy to me.” 

So the handmaidens led her through several 
apartments, each more wonderful than the last, un- 
til at length they came to the room where Peri- 
banou was sitting, clad in lustrous silk embroidered 
with gems. 

" 'My good woman,” said the princess in answer 
to the witch’s thanks, " I am glad that a guest of 
mine should be cured of illness within these walls. 
So now amuse thyself with roaming about my 
[189] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


palace, and these maidens shall go with thee to 
point out whatever is interesting and rare.” 

Then the handmaidens led her about the palace 
and displayed to her all the rooms, which so dazzled 
her that she could find no words to praise them. 
At length she was taken to the outer court, and 
her path to the city was pointed out, but no sooner 
had she turned to make sure where the entrance 
lay than the iron door vanished, and she found 
herself alone among the rocks. Returning to the 
palace, she told her adventures to the sultan and 
warned him that his son had such wealth and 
power as to make him the most dangerous of rivals. 

" What is to be done ? ” cried the sultan, who 
was now beside himself with fear. " Shall I put 
him in prison ? ” 

" O king of kings,” answered the witch, " that 
would be a foolish thing to do. If Prince Ahmed 
goes to prison, all his followers must go also, and 
what gates or bars could keep them there when 
his wife is a fairy to whom nothing is impossible ? 
I would advise thee to ask thy son to bring thee 
some wonderful thing, such as a tent that will 
shelter thy whole army and may yet be held in a 
man’s hand. If he succeeds, thou wilt in time fill 
thy treasure house with rare inventions ; if he fails, 
[190] 


PRINCE AHMED AND PERIBANOU 

he will be ashamed to enter thy presence again, 
and thou wilt be rid of him.” 

The sultan approved of this advice and the next 
day made his request, saying : " O my son, I hear 
that thou hast wedded a beautiful fairy, who can 
perform marvelous things. Often I have need of 
a great tent, that will shelter my whole army and 
yet may be folded into so small a package that it 
could be held in a man’s hand. If thy wife could 
obtain such a thing for me, it would save me much 
trouble.” 

" O my lord the sultan,” answered Prince 
Ahmed, ” this seems to me a very difficult un- 
dertaking, and I dare not promise thee such a 
present, but whatever is in my power, that will 
I gladly do for thee.” 

Now Prince Ahmed was in the habit of staying 
three days with his father, but this time he short- 
ened his visit. As he entered the fairy’s palace 
she saw that he was grave and sad, and she said 
to him: "Is all well with thee? Why hast thou 
returned so soon, and why dost thou look so 
unhappy ? ” 

Then he told her the whole story, and she an- 
swered : " I will set thy mind at rest, for I would 
not see thee so troubled a moment longer. It is 

[ 191 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


true that thy father is seeking his own destruction, 
and that some enemy is striving to work harm to 
thee ; but thou art safe here, for no human being 
has power to enter this place against my will. As 
for the tent, it is a slight matter. I will send for 
one at once and give it to thee.” 

Accordingly she dispatched one of her hand- 
maidens, who presently returned with a small 
package, which she placed in Prince Ahmed’s 
hand. 

"What is this.f^” said he in bewilderment. 
" What is this thing that thy maiden has given 
me ? ” 

Then the fairy laughed and said to the hand- 
maiden, "Take the tent from Prince Ahmed and 
pitch it upon the plain so that he may see if it is 
large enough.” 

The handmaiden took the pavilion and pitched 
it far from the palace, and yet one end reached 
to the very walls. So vast was the size of it that 
there was room beneath it for two armies and 
all their mules and camels. 

Prince Ahmed now mounted his horse without 
delay, and the tent having again been folded, he 
carried it to his father. The sultan received the gift 
with amazement and ordered that it should be 
[192] 


PRINCE AHMED AND PERIBANOU 

stored with all care in the royal treasure house, 
but the evil thoughts that had been put into his 
mind by the vizier and the witch became stronger 
than ever. He was convinced that his son planned 
to take his kingdom away from him, and again he 
consulted the witch as to what he should do. 

On Prince Ahmed’s next visit the sultan was 
ready with another request. " O my son,” said he, 
”it has pleased me much that thou art so ready 
to carry out my wishes, and now there is one other 
thing I need which I hope thou wilt try to bring 
to me. I have heard that there is a healing spring, 
called the Spring of Lions, and that the water 
from this spring will cure all diseases. If thou art 
eager that I shall live long in health and comfort, 
thou wilt surely do thy best to supply me with 
some of it.” 

Very slowly Prince Ahmed replied: "O my 
lord the king, I myself have no power in the mat- 
ter, but I will ask my wife if she can help me to 
fulfill thy wishes.” And the next day he returned 
to Peribanou to ask for her help. 

" I will grant his request,” said the fairy, " al- 
though there will be some risk for thee, and an 
enemy has suggested it. Give heed to my words 
and no harm can come to thee, but if thou art 

[ 193] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


forgetful or careless, thy life will be in danger. In 
the hall of yonder castle is a fountain watched by 
four fierce lions, two of which are always awake 
while the other two take their rest. No living 
thing may pass them in safety without my help. 
I will now tell thee what to do. Take this ball of 
thread and a flask for carrying the water. Choose 
a swift horse for thyself, and another on which 
must be placed the body of a sheep cut into 
quarters. When thou comest to the court of the 
castle throw the ball of thread upon the ground 
before thee. It will begin to roll, and thou must 
follow it until it stops. At this moment the four 
lions will see thee, and the two that watch will 
rouse the two that sleep and rest. They will 
growl and roar in a dreadful fashion, but be not 
dismayed. Go boldly on, and when thou art near 
to them throw to each lion a piece of the sheep. 
Then ride with all thy might to the fountain and 
fill the flask while the lions are busy eating. After 
that, return home as speedily as possible.” 

The next day at dawn Prince Ahmed rode forth 
to the castle, and all befell even as the fairy had 
said. He filled his flask from the basin, and was 
bringing it back when he saw that two of the lions 
were following him. He drew his sword and was 

[194] 


PRINCE AHMED AND PERIBANOU 

about to defend himself, when one of the lions 
nodded to him and wagged its tail as if to tell 
him that there was no danger. The second lion 
then sprang forward and kept close to him, and 
thus they came to the palace. When the lions 
saw that the prince had safely entered the door, 
they returned by the way they had come. 

The sultan was sitting in his audience hall 
when his son appeared, and Prince Ahmed, hav- 
ing saluted him, said: " Lo, I have brought thee 
the gift that thou didst crave. If thou shouldst 
fall ill, which Allah forbid, drink of this water 
and thou shalt immediately be made well.” 

Then the sultan embraced him and thanked 
him, but ever in his heart did envy and fear in- 
crease as he thought of his son’s bravery in the 
face of danger. As soon as the witch heard of 
Prince Ahmed’s success she hastened to confide 
to the sultan a new plan which she felt sure 
would bring about the young man’s downfall. 
Accordingly the next day Mirza said to his son : 
" O my child, I am delighted with thy gifts, and 
now I have only one request left to make. I 
would have thee bring me a man less than three 
feet high, whose beard is thirty feet long, and who 
carries an iron bar which he uses as a quarterstaff.” 

[195] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


" O my father,” answered Prince Ahmed, " this 
man may be hard to find, but I will do my best 
to gratify thee.” 

Having said this, he returned to the fairy’s pal- 
ace, where he greeted his wife with love and glad- 
ness, though his heart was heavy within him at the 
thought of the king’s demand. When Peribanou 
heard his story she said to him : ” Be not disturbed. 
This is an easy task, for the man is my brother 
Schaibar. I will send for him at once, only be care- 
ful to show no fear or horror at the sight of him.” 

” If he is thy brother,” said Ahmed, " what mat- 
ter is it how he looks ? He shall be as dear to me 
as a beloved friend.” 

Peribanou now ordered a gold chafing dish to 
be brought to her and a fire to be kindled beneath 
it. Throwing upon the flames some perfume which 
made a dense smoke, she suddenly cried, "See, 
my brother is here ! ” 

Ahmed looked up and saw a tiny man, less than 
three feet high, carrying on his shoulders a huge 
iron bar. His beard was thirty feet long, but 
it was arranged so cleverly that it cleared the 
ground. On his head he wore an enormous cap. 
His eyes were small but piercing, and his face 
was terrible to behold. 

[196] 









THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


” Who is this?” asked Schaibar in a fierce voice 
as he approached the princess. 

” O my brother,” said Peribanou, gently, " this 
is my husband, whom I should have presented to 
thee before to-day hadst thou not been far from 
home. He is the son of the sultan of India.” 

Schaibar then looked more kindly upon the 
prince and asked what he could do to serve him. 

"It is the wish of his father, the sultan, to see 
thee,” answered Peribanou, " and if thou wilt con- 
sent to visit the court, my husband will go with 
thee as guide.” 

" I am ready this instant,” said Schaibar, gra- 
ciously, but Peribanou detained him until she 
could give him the full history of the witch’s visit 
and the hatred of the wicked vizier. Next day at 
dawn Schaibar and Prince Ahmed set out for the 
city, but when they reached the gates all the folk 
fled for fear of the dwarf’s terrifying face. In the 
panic men lost their shoes and sandals, and many 
a fair turban was trodden in the dust. Through 
streets as empty as a desert the two princes ap- 
proached the sultan’s palace, where they found 
him holding court with all his counselors about 
him. These too on seeing Schaibar fled in dis- 
may, but the dwarf, going up to the king, who sat 
[198] 


PRINCE AHMED AND PERIBANOU 

motionless upon his throne, said to him with all 
dignity and majesty: ” Thou hast wished to see 
me. Lo ! I am here. What wouldst thou have 
me do?” 

The king made no reply, but held up his hands 
before his eyes to shut out the frightful sight. At 
this rudeness Schaibar was filled with fury. Have 
I come so far,” he cried, " to see a coward, who is 
afraid even to look at me ? ” And without warn- 
ing he swung his heavy quarterstaff and smote 
the sultan on the head. Another blow would have 
felled the grand vizier, who stood at his master’s 
right hand, had not Prince Ahmed cried out and 
begged the angry dwarf to have mercy, saying, 
" This man has never done me harm.” 

Then said Schaibar to the vizier: "Bring me the 
witch who hated this young prince, and also the 
vizier who poisoned his father’s mind against him, 
that I may give them the punishment that is 
their due.” 

The grand vizier presently brought them both, 
and Schaibar smote them to the ground one after 
the other. Nor would he have stopped here, had 
it not been for Prince Ahmed’s protests. When 
quiet was at last restored, the royal robes were put 
upon the young man, and he was hailed as sultan 

[ 199] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


of the Indies. The people throughout the king- 
dom rejoiced when they heard these tidings, for 
Ahmed was greatly beloved, and they flocked to 
bring him gifts and to hail him with cries of 
" Long live King Ahmed ! ” 

Schaibar now returned to his sister Peribanou, 
whom he brought to the new sultan’s palace, where 
she was received with admiration and delight. In 
due time, taking leave of her and of King Ahmed, 
the dwarf went back to his own home. 

After all these happenings King Ahmed sent 
for his two brothers and offered to make them 
rulers over rich provinces. Prince Ali accepted his 
appointment, and with his beautiful wife, Nouron- 
nihar, became widely loved and respected. Prince 
Houssain returned his grateful thanks, but pre- 
ferred to remain a dervish. As for Ahmed and 
Peribanou, they spent many years together in 
happy and peaceful possession of the throne of 
the Indies. 


[ 200 ] 


ALI COGIA 



TTN THE reign of the caliph Haroun al-Raschid 
there lived in the city of Bagdad a certain 
J_L merchant called Ali Cogia, who owned a 
small shop where he sold goods of various kinds. 
Now it came to pass that for three nights run- 
ning he saw in a vision an old sheik who said to 
him with some sternness, " It is thy duty to make 
pilgrimage to Mecca.” 

Thus warned, Ali Cogia sold his shop and his 
goods and all that he owned to make ready for 
the journey. He placed a thousand gold pieces 
in an earthen jar and filled it up with olives as 
the safest way of concealing the coins. Then he 
betook himself to a friend who was a merchant, 
and said to him : ” O my brother, I am about to 
[ 201 ] 



THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


go with a caravan to Mecca, the holy city. There- 
fore I have brought this jar of olives, which I pray 
thee to keep for me until I return.” 

The merchant at once gave the key of his ware- 
house to Ali Cogia and said to him: Take this 
key and open the storeroom, and place thy jar 
wherever it suits thee best. At thy return thou 
shalt find it untouched.” 

So Ali Cogia did his friend’s bidding and left 
his gold in the storeroom. Then he fared forth 
with the caravan. At length he came to Mecca, 
and when he had fulfilled all the proper rites and 
ceremonies he set up a shop for the sale of goods. 
One thing and another delayed his return. He 
even visited Cairo, the capital of Egypt, where he 
made much money from the sale of his stuffs. 
After seven years of absence he came back at 
last to Balsora. 

Now for all these seven years the Bagdad mer- 
chant had never once thought of Ali Cogia and 
his jar, but one day as he sat with his wife at their 
evening meal she said to him, ” I wish I had 
some good olives to eat.” 

That reminds me,” he said, of a jar that was 
left in my storeroom years ago by Ali Cogia, who 
went on a pilgrimage to Mecca. No one knows 
[ 202 ] 


ALI COGIA 


where he is or what has become of him. I will 
open the jar, and if the olives are not spoiled, you 
shall eat of them this very night.” 

His wife, however, was more honest than he 
was. " Heaven forbid,” said she, " that thou shouldst 
break thy word. Perhaps he will come back from 
Mecca to-morrow, and then thou wilt be ashamed. 
I will have no hand in it, nor will I eat of the 
olives.” 

But the merchant would not heed what she said. 
Going to the storeroom, he opened the jar and be- 
held the olives white with mold ; but presently, as 
he tipped up the jar to see if those at the bottom 
were still sound, he caught a glimpse of the gold. 
Instantly he emptied the jar and wondered with 
exceeding wonder to find in the lower part of it 
hundreds of gold coins. The sight of so much 
wealth filled him with envy. After a time he 
went back to his wife and said to her: "Thou art 
right. I have decided not to open the jar.” 

That night he could not sleep for thinking of 
the gold. As soon as morning came he went to 
his warehouse, emptied the jar again, and filled it 
up with fresh olives, putting the coins away in a 
safe place. Nor did he say a word to his wife 
about the matter. 


[ 203 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


Now it happened that at the end of this same 
month Ali Cogia returned safe and sound to Bag- 
dad. His first thought was to seek out his old 
acquaintance, who greeted him with every sign of 
joy. When Ali Cogia had recited what had be- 
fallen him during the years of his absence, he 
asked permission to remove his jar of olives. 

” My friend,” ^aid the merchant, " I know not 
where thou didst leave it. Here is the key. Go 
down to the storehouse and take possession of 
thy property.” 

So Ali Cogia did as he was .told, but when he 
came to open the jar and found that it contained 
only olives, he was nearly distracted. Going back 
to the merchant, he said to him : ” O my friend, 
when I went on my pilgrimage to Mecca I left a 
thousand gold coins in that jar, and now they are 
not there. Canst thou tell me aught concerning 
them ? If in thy sore need thou hast borrowed 
them, it matters not so long as thou art willing to 
return them to me- as soon as thou art able.” 

Then the merchant pretended to be angry and 
said : " My good friend, thou wilt remember that 
with thine own hand thou didst set the jar inside 
the storeroom. Didst thou not say to me at the 
time that it was full of olives, and hast thou not 
[204] 


ALI COGIA 


found it even as thou saidst? What, then, is 
thy complaint ? ” 

Thereupon Ali Cogia entreated him, saying: 
” O my friend, those coins were all that I had in 
the world. Return them to me, I beseech thee.” 

Then the merchant grew still more angry and 
cried out : " Begone from my house ! Thou art a 
swindler.” 

Hearing the dispute, the neighbors came crowd- 
ing to the shop, and soon the story was known to 
all the people of Bagdad. The matter, indeed, 
was brought before the cadi, but the merchant 
protested his innocence so loudly that the case 
was dismissed from the court. In time, however, 
the affair came to the ears of the caliph Haroun 
al-Raschid, and he gave the following order: "To- 
morrow let the accuser and the accused be brought 
to my audience hall, and I myself will inquire into 
the matter.” 

Now it happened that on this very night the 
caliph, according to his custom, was walking in 
disguise through the streets of Bagdad. Presently 
he came upon an open space where ten or twelve 
boys were playing in the moonlight. As the caliph 
drew near he heard one of the lads say : " Come^ 
let us play the game of 'cadi.’ I will be the judge ; 
[205] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

let one of you be Ali Cogia and another the 
merchant.” 

When the caliph heard this he drew near to see 
how the boy would play his part and to what de- 
cision he would come. The young judge was sit- 
ting in much pomp and dignity while he listened 
to the story. " What hast thou to say for thyself ? ” 
he asked when the tale was finished, and the 
accused made answer even as the merchant had 
done. Then said the boy cadi : " I must see this 
jar of olives. Go at once and fetch it, so that I 
may examine it here.” 

The supposed jar was brought and the cadi 
continued, "Is this the same jar that was left with 
the merchant ? ” And both boys declared that it 
was.. Then said the judge, " Open the jar that I 
may look at the fruit.” 

This also was done ; whereupon the young cadi 
said : " How is this ? The flavor of these olives is 
excellent, and their condition is perfect. Surely 
olives that were seven years old would no longer 
be so good. Bring me two olive merchants, in 
order that I may inquire about this.” 

Then two other boys were brought into court 
and testified that the olives were fresh and of 
recent growth. 


[ 206] 










THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


You must be wrong,” said the boy cadi, "for 
it is fully seven years since Ali Cogia placed them 
in the jar.” 

"Impossible!” cried both the olive merchants. 
" These olives are of this year’s growth, and every 
olive merchant in Bagdad will tell thee the same 
thing.” 

Then said the young cadi to the merchant, " It 
is thou who art the swindler and the rogue.” 

At this the children clapped their hands and 
led the merchant away to prison. The caliph also 
was greatly pleased at the good sense of the boy 
judge and commanded that he should be brought 
to the real trial on the next day. 

So on the following morning, when the caliph 
Haroun al-Raschid took his seat upon the throne 
of justice he had beside him the boy cadi, before 
whom Ali Cogia was bidden to make his com- 
plaint. When the merchant had defended himself, 
the child said, " Swear not that thou art innocent 
until the jar of olives has been produced in court.” 

Immediately the jar was brought forward and 
opened according to the boy’s instructions. Tast- 
ing one of the olives, he gave one also to each of 
the olive merchants who had been summoned by 
the caliph’s orders. 


[ 208 ] 


ALI COGIA 


'' How old is this fruit? ” he asked them. 

'' The olives are of this year’s growth,” they 
answered. 

"You must be mistaken,” said the boy, "for 
these olives were put into yonder jar at least 
seven years ago.” 

"It is as we say,” they replied without hesita- 
tion. " If thou dost not believe us, there are other 
olive merchants in Bagdad, whom thou canst ask. 
So shalt thou know if we speak truth or lies.” 

Now when the swindler saw that he could not 
prove his innocence he confessed everything. But 
the boy cadi said to the caliph : " O Commander 
of the Faithful, it is not for me to pass judgment. 
This is no jesting matter, and I cannot go on as 
I did in play yesterday. Thou alone hast power 
to punish this man.” 

So the caliph ordered that the money should be 
restored to Ali Cogia, and that the dishonest mer- 
chant should be punished. As for the boy cadi, 
he was sent home to his parents with a present 
of gold. 


[209] 



ALI THE PERSIAN 1 
NE NIGHT it happened that the caliph 



Haroun al-Raschid was restless and 


heavy-hearted. Therefore he sent for his 
vizier and said to him, "Jaafar, I am sleepless and 
would be amused.” 

Then said Jaafar, O Commander of the Faith- 
ful, I have a friend, Ali the Persian, who has a 
store of pleasant tales.” 

Fetch him hither,” said the caliph. 

" I hear and I obey,” said Jaafar, and went to 
seek Ali the Persian. 

'' O Ali,” said the caliph when the two stood 
before him, ” my heart is heavy, and I have heard 
that thou hast a store of pleasant tales.” 

^ This absurd story, in which the greed of the Kurd gets the 
better of his common sense, is further elaborated in the original, but 
enough is given here to show its characteristic humor. 


[ 210 ] 


ALI THE PERSIAN 

O Commander of the Faithful,” said Ali, shall 
I tell what I have seen with my eyes, or what I 
have heard with my ears ? ” 

'' If thine eyes have seen aught worth the tell- 
ing, let me hear that,” said the caliph. 

" I hear and I obey,” said Ali. " Know then, 

0 Commander of the Faithful, that some years 
ago I left this my native city of Bagdad and 
went on a journey, having with me a light 
leather bag. 

” Presently I came to a certain city, wherein as 

1 was buying and selling, behold, a rascally Kurd 
seized my bag, saying, ' This is mine.’ 

" Whereupon I cried aloud, ' Ho, Moslems, one 
and all, come and deliver me from this thief ! ’ 

" But the folk who gathered on the street about 
us said that we must both go to the cadi and sub- 
mit ourselves to his judgment. 

" So we submitted ourselves — the Kurd and I 
— to the cadi, and he said, ' Which of you is the 
owner of the bag ? ’ 

"And the Kurd said, 'Verily the bag is my bag, 
and I found it with this man, mine enemy.’ 

" ' When didst thou lose it ? ’ asked the cadi. 

" ' But yesterday,’ said the Kurd, ' and I have 
passed a sleepless night because of it.’ 

[2II] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

” ' If it be thy bag,’ said the cadi, ' thou canst 
surely tell what was in it.’ 

'' ' O cadi,’ said the Kurd, ' there were in it two 
little silver boxes for eye-powder and a kerchief 
wherein I had wrapped two gilt cups and two 
candlesticks. Moreover, it contained two platters 
and two spoons and a cushion and two leather 
rugs and a brass tray and two kettles and a basin 
and a jar and a ladle and a needle and a wooden 
trencher and two sacks and two saddles and a fine 
cloak and two tents and a mattress and two sofas 
and two sheep and a camel and a whole company 
of Kurds who will bear witness that it is my bag.’ 

" Then said the cadi to me, 'And what hast thou 
to say ? ’ 

" So I came forward, O Commander of the Faith- 
ful (and indeed the Kurd’s speech had fairly be- 
wildered me), and said, 'Verily, O cadi, there was 
nothing in my bag but a tumble-down house and a 
dog’s kennel and a boys’ school and several tents 
and ropes and the cities of Balsora and Bagdad ! ’ 

" At these words of mine the Kurd began to 
weep and wail. ' O my lord,’ he said, ' this bag of 
mine is well known, for in it are castles and forts 
and a city and two villages and a cadi who will be 
evidence that the bag is my bag.’ 

[ 212 ] 


ALI THE PERSIAN 


Then said the cadi, ' And what sayst thou, 

0 Ali?’ 

" So, O Commander of the Faithful, I came 
forward, being filled with rage, and said : ' May 
Allah preserve our lord the cadi! In this bag of 
mine there are a thousand barking dogs and 
statues and pictures and singing girls and mosques 
and baths and the whole kingdom of Solomon. 
Moreover, there are a thousand sharp razors to 
shave off the cadi’s beard if he does not say that 
this is my bag.’ 

" Now when the cadi heard what the Kurd and 

1 had declared, he was confounded and said, ' Never 
did I hear anything so extraordinary I ’ 

"Then he bade me open the bag, and behold 
there were only bread and cheese and a few olives. 
So I threw down the bag before him and the Kurd, 
and went my way.” 

Now when the caliph heard this tale he laughed 
aloud and made Ali a handsome present. 


[213] 



SINDBAD THE SAILOR 

TTN THE time of the caliph Haroun al-Raschid 
there lived in the city of Bagdad a poor 
J_L porter called Hindbad. One day when the 
weather was extremely hot, and he was stagger- 
ing along under a heavy burden, he happened to 
pass the house of a rich merchant. The pavement 
before the house had been sprinkled with rose 
water, and a cool breeze came from the open door. 
Within he could see a great garden, where pages 
and slaves were moving about and preparations 
seemed to be going on for a feast. Filled with 
envy, Hindbad spoke aloud in bitterness and 
discontent, bewailing his own hard lot and pro- 
testing against the injustice that had given so 
much to another, who was perhaps no more 
deserving than himself. 

[214] 


SINDBAD THE SAILOR 

While he was thus reproaching fate there came 
forth from the door a young page, who said to 
him, ” Enter; my master calls for thee.” 

Accordingly Hindbad laid down his burden and 
went with the page into the house. At the upper 
end of a great table in the dining hall sat a grave, 
handsome man, whose hair was already turning 
gray. On beholding him and his guests Hindbad 
saluted the assembly with all respect and awaited 
the host’s orders. But the master of the house 
urged him to draw near and to sit down and to 
eat of the delicious food that was on the table. 
And he said to the wondering porter, " What is 
thy name, and what trade dost thou follow ? ” 

" O my master,” answered the porter, " I am 
called Hindbad, and I bear upon my head men’s 
merchandise, for hire.” 

At this the master of the house smiled and 
said : " Thy name is like unto mine, for I am Sind- 
bad the Sailor. And when I heard what thou wast 
saying before my door I determined to call thee in, 
that I might tell thee something of what happened 
to me before all this prosperity became mine. For 
I have not gained this comfort except after many 
troubles and terrors. Listen, then, to the history 
of my first voyage.” 


[215 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


SINDBAD’S FIRST VOYAGE 

My father died when I was a child and left me 
an ample fortune. For a time I lived a gay life, 
spending without reason, and when at length I 
saw my folly, my money was almost gone. Then 
it occurred to my mind to travel and engage in 
trade. So I bought some goods and, with other 
merchants, embarked in a ship, and for many 
nights and days we traversed the sea. 

We passed from land to land and from sea 
to sea, and in every place to which we came we 
bought and sold and exchanged merchandise. At 
length we arrived at a small island, where the 
vessel was again brought to anchor. We landed 
and amused ourselves in various ways. Suddenly 
the captain, who was still standing upon the deck 
of his ship, cried out : " O ye passengers, come up 
quickly into the ship. Leave your merchandise 
and flee for your lives, for that is no island, but a 
huge fish. When you lighted your fire it felt the 
heat, and now it will go down with you into the 
sea, and you will all be drowned.” 

The passengers, hearing his words, hastened to 
obey him, but before all of us could reach the 
ship, the island sank with those that were upon it, 
[216] 


SINDBAD THE SAILOR 


and we were cast into the sea. By good fortune a 
great wooden bowl came within my grasp, and I 
laid hold upon it and got into it, beating the water 
with my feet as if they were oars, while the waves 
tossed me to and fro. The ship meantime had 
gone on her way, and I watched her until she dis- 
appeared from sight. Night came, and I lost all 
hope of being saved, but when another day had 
passed, the bowl drifted near a shore, where I con- 
trived to make a landing. I threw myself upon 
the ground like one dead, and there I slept until 
the next day. Then I awoke and found myself 
surrounded by springs of fresh water and by all 
kinds of fruit. I walked along the shore and 
amused myself by looking at the strange trees 
and flowers. Suddenly a man came forth and 
called to me, saying, Who art thou, and why hast 
thou come here ? ” 

I answered him, " O my master, I am a stranger 
and have been shipwrecked upon this coast.” 

Then he said, Come with me,” and led me to 
a large cave and brought me some food. 

"'We are the grooms of King Mihraj,” he went 
on, '' and we have all his horses under our care. 
When we return from pasturing them here, we 
will take thee. with us.” 


[217] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


I thanked him, and before much time had 
gone by we set forth together for the city of King 
Mihraj. When the king had heard my story he 
treated me with all respect and courtesy. I re- 
mained in his service a long time, but whenever 
I went to the seashore I used to ask of all the mer- 
chants and travelers concerning my old home, the 
city of Bagdad. No one had ever heard of it, and 
I grew weary with my long stay in a foreign land. 

One day as I stood upon the shore a great ves- 
sel approached, and the sailors began to bring 
forth the goods that were in the ship. As I stood 
writing their account for them, I said to the cap- 
tain, "Is there anything more in the vessel ? ” 

" Yes,” he answered, " I have some goods in the 
hold of my ship, but their owner is dead. I desire 
to sell his goods so that I may send the money I 
receive for them to his family in Bagdad.” 

" What was the name of the man? ” I asked him. 

He answered, " His name was Sindbad the 
Sailor, and he was drowned on a voyage with us.” 

Then I cried out at him with a great cry : " O 
captain, I am Sindbad the Sailor, who landed upon 
the island with the other merchants, and when the 
fish dived I was among those who sank. But I 
was preserved by Allah (whose narne be exalted !) 

[218] 


SINDBAD THE SAILOR 


and saved from drowning by means of a large 
wooden bowl, such as the passengers used for 
washing. I landed on this coast, and the grooms 
of King Mihraj brought me to this city. Therefore 
these goods upon thy ship are my property.” 

When the captain was convinced of my truth- 
fulness he gave me my goods with my name written 
upon them, and none was missing. So I opened 
them and took out something precious and costly, 
as a present to the king. The rest I sold, and with 
the money I purchased other goods and merchan- 
dise. Then I went to the king, and having thanked 
him for all his kindness, I begged for his permis- 
sion to go home to my own country. So he bade 
me farewell, making me rich gifts, and we set sail 
for Balsora. From that place I returned to Bag- 
dad. To-morrow I will relate to you what happened 
on my second voyage. 

Sindbad then presented the porter with a hun- 
dred pieces of gold and urged him to repeat his 
visit on the following day. Accordingly Hindbad 
returned to the house of Sindbad at the time 
appointed and was welcomed with courtesy. And 
after the other guests had assembled, Sindbad told 
them the story of his second voyage. 

[219] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


SINDBAD’S SECOND VOYAGE 

I enjoyed my comfortable life for some time, but 
at length I became weary of it and longed for the 
pleasure of seeing new countries and of earning 
my bread. Having again purchased goods and mer- 
chandise, I embarked in a stanch vessel with other 
merchants and travelers. We passed from sea to 
sea and from land to land until at last we came to 
a beautiful though lonely island, where we all went 
ashore. The air was sweet, and as I sat by a spring 
of pure water under the trees I fell asleep. When I 
awoke no one was to be seen. The ship had gone on 
with the other passengers, and I had been forgotten. 

I looked about me in terror and despair. I 
had no food or money with me, and I saw not how 
I was to live. So I gave myself up for lost, saying, 
" Not always will the pitcher return from the well 
unbroken.” Presently I rose and walked up and 
down the shore, unable to keep still. Then I 
climbed a high tree, but from the top of it I could 
at first see nothing but sea and sky and trees and 
sand. Looking more closely I saw in the distance 
a huge white object of uncertain shape. At once I 
descended from the tree and made my way in that 
direction. As I drew near to the strange object I 
• [ 220 ] 


SINDBAD THE SAILOR 


found that it was like a great dome, having neither 
door nor window, nor, indeed, did there seem to be 
any way of gaining an entrance to it While I 
gazed at it a shadow fell upon me, and a bird of 
enormous size alighted upon the dome and brooded 
over it with its wings. Then I remembered the 
stories travelers had told me of a great bird, the 
roc, that feeds its young with elephants, and I 
knew that the dome must be a roc’s egg. 

At length I came so close to the egg that the 
legs of the bird were within reach of my hand, 
and they were as big as the trunk of a tree. Un- 
winding my turban from my head, I twisted it 
into a rope and bound my body fast to one of the 
feet of the bird, saying to myself, " Perhaps I shall 
be carried to a land of cities, and that will surely 
be better than this lonely island.” 

When the dawn came, the bird rose from her 
egg, uttered a great cry, and drew me up into the 
air. Gradually, then, she descended and rested 
in a valley below a lofty mountain top, where I 
hastily untied my turban and set myself free. The 
bird seemed unconscious of my presence. She took 
something from the ground in her talons and flew 
away, and as I followed her flight with eager gaze, 
I saw that her prey was a serpent of enormous size. 

[ 221 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


I noticed as I walked along the valley that 
the ground was strewn with shining pebbles, and 
when I stooped to examine them I found them to 
be diamonds of great size and wonderful beauty. 
But so steep were the sides of the valley that no 
one could ascend out of it, and I trod upon the 
diamonds with no desire to pick them up. Sud- 
denly, as I walked, a piece of fresh meat fell near 
me, and I remembered another story told by the 
merchants — that diamond hunters, unable to make 
their way into many places where the precious 
stones are to be found, are in the habit of killing 
a sheep and tossing pieces of raw flesh into the 
diamond field. These pieces of meat, falling upon 
the sharp stones, stick to them, and the vultures 
who feast upon the meat carry the diamonds also 
to their nests. Then the diamond hunters frighten 
away the birds and secure the gems. 

Hope now revived within me. I filled my 
pockets and my girdle with the glittering stones, 
and when another huge piece of meat fell to the 
earth, I clasped it to my breast, and, lying upon 
my back, held it firmly. Thus it was raised above 
the ground, and a vulture soon seized it with his 
talons and bore it high into the air, carrying me 
with it. When the bird had reached the top of 
[ 222 ] 


SINDBAD THE SAILOR 


the mountain he alighted, but scarcely had he 
done so when a loud cry from behind him fright- 
ened him away, and lo ! I found myself standing 
beside a man, clad in the dress of a merchant, 
who was amazed at my appearance. 

He spoke not a word to me, but spying the 
meat, he came close to it and began to examine it 
carefully. No diamonds were to be seen upon it, 
and he smote his hands together in his grief and 
disappointment. Seeing his distress, I advanced 
toward him, saying : " Fear not. I am a merchant 
like thyself, and my story is surprising. Thou 
shalt receive from me what will astonish and re- 
joice thee, for I have in abundance what thou art 
looking for.” 

Then I gave to the merchant several exquisite 
diamonds, and he thanked me and blessed me, and 
together we escaped from that dangerous country. 
We went from valley to valley and from city to 
city until we arrived at Balsora. Thence I came 
to Bagdad and entered my own house, bringing 
with me a great quantity of diamonds, and riches 
in abundance. This is the end of the story of my 
second voyage. To-morrow, if it be the will of 
Allah (whose name be exalted ! ), I will relate to 
thee the events of my third voyage. 

[223 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


SINDBAD’S THIRD VOYAGE 

For a long time, my friends, I lived in great com- 
fort and happiness. Then I longed once more for 
travel and diversion and for gain as well, the soul 
being prone unto greed. So I bought for myself 
merchandise and embarked in a great vessel for a 
foreign shore. We went from sea to sea and from 
land to land, until one day, when we were in the 
midst of the sea, the captain cried out : ” O pas- 
sengers, we have been driven out of our course, 
and fate has brought us near an island on which is 
the Mountain of Apes. No man has ever escaped 
from this place, and we shall all be dead men.” 

Scarcely had he finished speaking when the 
apes surrounded the vessel on every side and 
began to climb the ropes. They were hideous 
beasts, being covered with thick black hair, like 
felt. Having seized all the passengers, they landed 
us upon their island and departed with our ship. 
Together we made our way into the middle of the 
island, and lo ! there stood a house with lofty walls 
and heavy doors. In one vast apartment were fire 
pots for cooking and a great pile of human bones. 

Suddenly there appeared among us a giant of 
huge form and frightful countenance^ His mouth 
[224] 


SINDBAD THE SAILOR 

was like the mouth of a well, and his lips were 
like those of a camel. He came toward us and 
lifted me from the ground, and I was like a little 
morsel in his hand. He felt of me and turned me 
over and over as a butcher does a sheep, but he 
found me thin and weak from fatigue. So he let 
me go and took first one and then another from 
among us until at last he came to our captain, 
who was fat and broad shouldered. Being satis- 
fied with this victim’s condition, the hideous giant 
cooked and devoured him, after which he lay down 
to sleep. 

The next day we went forth to examine the 
island, but there was no place in which we could 
hide ourselves, and the hours went swiftly by. 
Presently the giant came again among us and 
selected another victim in the same fashion as 
the day before. In the morning we said to one 
another: Better for us if we cast ourselves into 
the sea than suffer ourselves to be put to death 
in this horrible manner. We must plan how we 
may escape from the island.” And I said to them, 
” Let us carry away some of his firewood and make 
rafts for ourselves.” 

To this they all agreed, and we began the 
work. We carried the wood to the shore and 
[225 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


made rafts and stowed food upon them, after 
which we returned to the house. 

That evening, while the giant was sleeping 
after his dreadful supper, we took two huge iron 
spits and heated them in the fire until they were 
like burning coals. These being thrust into the 
giant’s eyes, destroyed his sight. He uttered a 
great cry and sprang to his feet, while we fled to 
the right and left in the utmost fear and terror. 
Coming to the shore we hastily embarked upon 
our rafts and pushed off to sea. But the giant 
rushed after us, led by another still more horrible 
than himself, and together they cast upon us great 
masses of rock so that of all the persons upon 
the rafts only three were left alive. The next day 
we reached an island on which were delicious 
fruits and springs of water, and here we slept 
with thankful hearts. 

We were awakened, however, by another foe. 
A serpent of enormous size had approached us 
and had swallowed one of our number. At this 
we were in the greatest fear and walked about 
over the island until we found a lofty tree, which 
we hoped would be a safe hiding place. But when 
the night came, and it was dark, the serpent 
returned, and coming up to my companion, 
[226] 


SIND BAD THE SAILOR 

swallowed him while I looked on in horror. After 
this the serpent went its way, leaving me like one 
dead, by reason of my fear. 

I now tied wide pieces of wood crosswise upon 
the soles of my feet, and I tied a strip of wood 
upon each shoulder and one, long and wide, upon 
the crown of my head. Thus I was in the midst 
of pieces of wood which inclosed me like a box. 
When the evening arrived the serpent saw me and 
came near to me, but could not swallow me while 
I was protected by the wood. As soon as the sun 
rose it went its way, in the utmost vexation and rage. 

I then walked along the shore of the island, 
and behold ! there was a ship in the distance. So 
I took a great branch of a tree and signaled with 
it to the passengers, and they came and took me 
with them in the ship. I told them of all my 
troubles, and they wondered exceedingly. They 
clad me in decent clothing and gave me food to 
eat until my hunger was satisfied. My soul be- 
came at ease, and my courage was strengthened, 
and all that I had undergone became as a dream. 

At length we came in sight of an island, and 
the captain anchored his ship in order that the 
merchants might take forth their goods to sell 
and buy. Then the owner of the ship said to me : 

[227] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

” Thou art a stranger and poor. I therefore desire 
to aid thee to reach thine own country. There 
was with us a man whom we have lost, and we 
know not whether he be living or dead. I will 
put his goods in thy charge, that thou mayst sell 
them in this island, and in return thou shalt have 
payment for thy trouble.” And I thanked him. 

He thereupon ordered the sailors to land the 
goods and to deliver them to me. And the clerk 
said, " With what name shall I mark them He 
answered, " They belong to Sindbad the Sailor, of 
whose fate we have no knowledge.” 

When I heard my name I ran to the owner of 
the ship and told him that I was Sindbad the 
Sailor and reminded him of all that liad passed 
between us when I set sail on my second voyage. 
And one of the merchants arose and said : " O my 
companions, what this man says is true. When I 
told to you the story of my casting down a huge 
piece of meat into the Valley of Diamonds and 
of a man who was brought up with it, you would 
not believe me. But this is he whom the vulture 
brought up out of the valley, and he gave me 
diamonds of great price. He told me that his 
name was Sindbad the Sailor, and now you may 
know that our stories are true.” 

[ 228 ] 


SINDBAD THE SAILOR 


When the owner of the ship was thus con- 
vinced that I was Sindbad the Sailor he restored 
all my wealth to me, and we set sail and in time 
arrived at Balsora. Then I came to Bagdad, and 
collected my friends and companions about me, 
and forgot all that had happened to me and the 
distresses that I had suffered. To-morrow thou 
shalt come to me, Hindbad, and I will relate to 
thee the story of my fourth voyage. 

Hindbad took the gold which Sindbad had or- 
dered to be given to him and went his way. The ^ 
next day he returned and was received with all 
courtesy. The servants brought forward delicious 
food, and Sindbad of the Sea began his story. 

SINDBAD’S FOURTH VOYAGE 

I lived at home in the utmost happiness and ease 
until my restless spirit again suggested that I should 
travel to foreign countries and add to my wealth. 
Accordingly I purchased goods and gear, and having 
packed many bales, I embarked with some of the 
chief men of Balsora and set forth on a long journey. 

One day a wind arose which became a hurri- 
cane and tore the sails into strips. The vessel 
[ 229 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


was wrecked, and I, with a number of other mer- 
chants, was cast upon the shore of an island. As 
we walked about in hunger and weariness we saw 
a building in the distance and proceeded thither. 
Immediately we were seized and carried into the 
building and into the presence of the king. He 
ordered that we should be fed, but so strange was 
the food that I would eat none of it. My compan- 
ions ate of it, however, and immediately they be- 
came like men without sense. Upon seeing this 
I was grieved for them and watched to see how 
they were treated. 

It was soon evident that we were to be fat- 
tened to serve as food for the king. Every day we 
were given into the care of a person who took us 
forth to pasture us like cattle. But because I 
would not eat of the food, and from excessive fear, 
I grew thin and ill, so that they forgot about me 
and allowed me to stay alone. 

One day as I was walking about the island 
the herdsman saw that I was in possession of my 
reason and made signs to me to take another road. 
This I did, running swiftly, because of my fear, 
until I was hidden from view. For seven days and 
nights I kept on, stopping only for rest and to 
eat of the herbs that I found, and at last I came 
[ 230] 


SINDBAD THE SAILOR . 

upon a party of men gathering pepper. I told 
them my story, and they wondered at my escape. 
They took me to their king, and he treated me 
with respect and honor, giving orders that I should 
have food and that I should amuse myself with 
a sight of his city. 

I rejoiced, therefore, and became at ease. A 
slight matter soon made me an important person. 
I noticed that all the men of the city (even the 
king himself) rode their horses without saddles. 
So I said to the king, " Wilt thou permit me to 
make a saddle for thee ? ” And he said, " What 
kind of thing is a saddle ? ” Then I said, " Furnish 
me with some wood and some leather and some 
wool, and I will show thee what a saddle is.” So 
with the aid of a carpenter and a blacksmith I 
made a saddle which pleased the king. And when 
his vizier saw the saddle he desired one like it. 
All the great men of the city also demanded sad- 
dles, which I made for them. Thus I gained much 
wealth and became well known among them. 

The king loaded me with presents and at 
length gave me for a wife a woman of high rank 
and abundant fortune. We lived together in great 
happiness until, one day, the wife of my neighbor 
died. I went in to console him and comfort him, 

[231] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

and found him in a most sorrowful state. " Farewell,” 
he said to me, ”for never wilt thou see me again.” 

" How so ? ” said I. " Thou art well ; do not give 
way to such despair.” 

"To-day they will bury my wife,” he answered, 
" and they will bury me with her, for it is the cus- 
tom in our country when the wife dies to bury her 
husband with her, and when the husband dies the 
wife is buried with him.” 

"This is a terrible country,” I said, and even as 
I spoke the people of the city began to draw near. 
Carrying the woman upon her bier, which was cov- 
ered with jewels and ornaments, they went forth 
to a place outside the city where a mountain stood 
near the sea. They lifted up a great stone and 
uncovered a deep pit, like a huge well. Into this 
they lowered the bier and the woman with all her 
jewels, and then they tied a rope about the man 
and let him down into the pit. They let down also 
a great jug of water and seven loaves of bread. 
Then they replaced the stone and went their way. 

I said within myself, " This death is worse than 
the first death,” and I became fearful lest my wife 
should die, and they should bury me alive with 
her. It was, indeed, but a short time, or so it 
seemed to me, before she did fall sick and die. 

[ 232 ] 


SINDBAD THE SAILOR 

And when the people of the city had placed her 
upon her bier they carried her to the mountain 
and came forward to bid me farewell. I cried out 
to them, " I am a stranger and cannot endure your 
customs,” but they paid no heed to me. I bowed 
before them to the earth and kissed their gar- 
ments, begging them to have mercy upon me. 
Not one of them was moved by my distress. They 
laid hold upon me by force, and after the body of 
my wife had been lowered into the pit they let me 
down also, with a jug of fresh water and seven 
loaves of bread. Then they replaced the stone, 
and I found myself in a huge cavern beneath the 
mountain. I walked about in the dreadful place 
and found it to be spacious; but the floor of it 
was covered with bones and jewels. I made for 
myself a couch in a far corner, and there I lay, 
knowing not night from day and taking as little 
food as possible, lest my supply should become 
exhausted. 

" It is true,” I said to myself, "that Allah ordereth 
all things, but thou art to blame, unhappy Sind- 
bad, for thy present evil case. If thou hadst stayed 
quietly at home, thou wouldst have escaped this 
terrible death.” Such were the complaints with 
which I filled the cave. 

[233] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


One day I was roused from my sleep by a 
slight noise, and as I walked toward the place 
whence it came, a wild beast ran by me and fled 
toward another part of the pit. As I followed it a 
faint light appeared in the distance, and the nearer 
I approached the larger and lighter it became. 
So I was convinced that there was a hole in 
the cavern, which opened to the outer air. Then 
my heart was more at ease, and taking an abun- 
dance of the jewels with which the ground was 
strewn, I sought the small opening made by the 
wild beasts. I dragged myself with great difficulty 
through the hole and found, to my joy, that I was 
upon a lonely strip of seashore. 

Two or three days afterwards, as I sat upon the 
sand, a ship passed within hail. I made a signal 
flag of my turban and called to the crew as loud 
as I could. When the sailors heard my voice they 
sent out a boat and carried me to the vessel. And 
the captain said to me : " O man, how didst thou 
come here ? All my life have I been accustomed 
to pass by this mountain, but never have I seen 
anything here but the birds and the wild beasts.” 

I answered him : I am a merchant. I was in 
a great ship, and it was wrecked near this moun- 
tain.” But I was silent concerning all that had 

[ 234 ] 


SINDBAD THE SAILOR 


befallen me in the city. We kept on our course 
until we arrived in safety at the city of Balsora; 
after which I came to my house in Bagdad. Sup 
thou with me to-morrow, O my brother, and I will 
tell thee what befell me during my fifth voyage, for 
that is more wonderful than any of the former tales. 

So Hindbad took the hundred pieces of gold 
which were presented to him, and returned to his 
own house. And the next day at the same hour he 
sat at Sindbad’s table with the other guests and 
heard with wonder the story of the fifth voyage. 


SINDBAD’S FIFTH VOYAGE 

I now dwelt in the city of Bagdad with my 
friends and companions and was content with my 
lot. But in time I forgot all that I had experienced 
and suffered on the sea, and longed to seek profit 
and amusement in other countries. So I bought 
quantities of goods and set sail from Balsora. 

One day we arrived at an island where many of 
the passengers landed to divert themselves after 
the long voyage. The island was uninhabited, but 
some of the merchants caught sight of a huge 
white dome of great bulk, which they examined 

[235 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


with much curiosity. At length they struck it 
with stones and sticks until they cracked it and 
discovered that it was an enormous egg. 

When I saw the merchants striking the egg I 
called out to them, " That is a roc’s egg, and the 
roc will surely come and destroy us,” but they paid 
no heed to my words. And behold ! the light was 
suddenly obscured, and we saw above us two birds 
of wonderful size flying in circles over the ship. 
The captain made haste to depart from the island, 
but the birds followed us, each bearing in its claws 
a mass of rock. One of them let fall the rock that 
he carried, but it missed us by a slight space. It 
went down into the sea with a mighty plunge 
and caused great waves upon which our ship was 
tossed about like a cockleshell. Then the other 
bird let fall a piece of the rock, and it dropped 
upon the ship and crushed it, and we were all 
thrown into the sea. 

I tried to save myself and caught hold of a 
plank of the ship, which bore me near an island in 
the midst of the sea. Here I landed with great 
difficulty and found myself in a beautiful place 
that resembled one of the gardens of Paradise. 

As I walked I saw a small stream, near which 
sat an old man. I said to myself, ” Perhaps this 
[236] 


SINDBAD THE SAILOR 

old man has also been shipwrecked.” So I said 
to him : '' O sir, why dost thou sit here, and what 
service can I render thee ? ” 

Whereupon he made a sign that I should 
carry him across the stream. Accordingly I took 
him upon my shoulders and carried him through 
the shallow water. Then I stooped, that he might 
descend with ease, but he would not get down. 
He had twisted his legs around my neck, and 
when I looked at them I saw that they were as 
rough and black as those of a buffalo. 

At this I was frightened and strove to throw 
him from my shoulders, but he pressed upon my 
chest with his feet and squeezed my throat so that 
I was choked and fell upon the ground like one 
dead. He then beat me upon my back and shoul- 
ders until I rose with him and carried him where- 
ever he wished to go. When I disobeyed him he 
gave me blows with his feet, and if I loitered or 
went slowly he beat me. We went about among 
the trees where there were choice fruits, and he 
descended not from my shoulders by night or day. 
If he desired to sleep he would wind his legs 
around my neck and take his rest, and I suffered 
so greatly that I said to myself, I will never 
again do good to any one so long as I live.” 

[ 237 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


Thus it was with me for some time, until the 
day I came upon a number of dry gourds lying 
upon the ground. I took a large one, and having 
cleansed it thoroughly, I filled it with grape juice 
and left it in the sun until it had become pure 
wine. Every morning I drank a little of it to give 
me strength to bear my burden, and one day the 
old man made a sign to me to give him some of 
the wine. This I did, and being pleased with the 
taste, he drank all that was left in the gourd. He 
soon became unconscious, so that I could shake 
him from my shoulders. I scarcely dared to be- 
lieve that I was freed from him, and in my fear 
lest he should rise again and torment me I caught 
up a heavy stone and flung it upon him as he lay 
there in his drunken sleep. 

After that I walked about the island and came 
again to the seashore. And lo ! a vessel approached 
and anchored, and all the passengers landed near 
me. When they saw me they asked many ques- 
tions concerning my coming to the island, and I 
told them my story. Then they said, ” This man 
who rode upon thy shoulders was called the Old 
Man of the Sea, and no one except thee ever 
escaped from him.” They gave me food and cloth- 
ing and took me with them in the ship to a city 
[238] 


SINDBAD THE SAILOR 


of lofty buildings overlooking the water. This is 
called the City of the Apes, and every night the 
people embark in boats and ships and pass the 
night upon the sea, in their fear lest the apes come 
down upon them from the mountains. 

To amuse myself, I landed, and the ship set 
sail without my knowledge ; so I repented that 
I had ever gone ashore in that place. Every night 
I embarked with some of the people and pushed 
off from the land to a place of safety. In the 
morning we returned, and the citizens went about 
their various occupations. One day a member of 
the party with whom I had spent the night said : 
" Thou art a stranger in this place. Art thou skilled 
in any art or trade by which thou couldst earn 
thy living ? ” 

And I said to him : " No. I was once a mer- 
chant and a person of wealth, but I have lost my 
ship and all my goods.” 

Then the man gave me a cotton bag and said 
to me, "Take this bag and fill it with pebbles.” 

So I picked up small pebbles from the beach 
and filled the bag. Then he put me in charge 
of a party of men, saying to them : " This is a 
stranger. Take him with you and teach him the 
mode of gathering.” 


[239] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


So they welcomed me and took me with them 
to a wide valley wherein were many lofty trees 
which no one could climb. There were also many 
apes, which when they saw us fled from us and 
hid among the branches. Then the men began to 
pelt the apes with the stones that they had in the 
bags, upon which the apes plucked off the fruits 
of the trees and threw them at the men. When I 
looked at the fruits which the apes had thrown 
down I saw that they were coconuts. Thereupon 
I chose a great tree which held many apes and 
threw pebbles at them until I had collected a great 
store of coconuts. Then we returned to the city, and 
I continued every day to go forth and gather coco- 
nuts, until I had amassed a large amount of them. 

One day a vessel arrived at that city and cast 
anchor. I went to my friend who had helped 
me and told him that I desired to return to my 
own country. He replied, "It is for thee to say.” 
So I bade him farewell and engaged my passage in 
that ship. At every place where we cast anchor I 
sold some of my coconuts, and soon I had gained 
much wealth. When we arrived at Balsora I made 
haste to proceed to Bagdad, where I soon forgot all 
the hardships of the voyage in making merry with 
my friends. Come to me to-morrow, O Hindbad, 
[240] 


SINDBAD THE SAILOR 


and I will relate to thee the tale of my sixth 
voyage, which was even more wonderful than this. 

Then Sindbad the Sailor gave orders that the 
porter should receive a hundred pieces of gold, 
and on the following day began his story. 

SINDBAD’S SIXTH VOYAGE 

One day, my friends, as I was sitting in happi- 
ness and gayety there came to me a party of mer- 
chants bearing the marks of travel. When I saw 
them I remembered the day of my return from 
voyaging, and I longed again for the excitement 
of travel and trade, so I determined to set forth. 
I bought for myself rich goods and embarked in 
a large vessel from the city of Balsora. We went 
.from place to place, buying and selling, and for- 
tune seemed to smile upon us, until -one day the 
captain suddenly cried out to us, ''We have fallen 
into great peril, for the wind has driven us from 
our course into an unknown sea.” 

Then he would have loosed the sails, but the 
wind flung the ship back and broke her rudder 
and drove her upon a rocky coast where she went 
to pieces. 


[241 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


A few of our number were cast upon the shore, 
which was already strewn with numerous bales of 
goods and the wrecks of other ships. The abun- 
dance of wealth confounded the reason, and the 
passengers became like madmen in consequence. 
I went up into the island, and there I found a 
stream, that fairly glittered because of the precious 
stones that it contained. I beheld jewels and crys- 
tals of all kinds, together with large pearls suitable 
for kings. 

We wandered about the island, carefully guard- 
ing our small stock of provisions, and soon we 
dared eat of it but sparingly lest it become ex- 
hausted. One after another of my companions 
died from hunger or fear, until at last I was left 
alone. So I wept, saying, "Would that I had 
died first ! ” And I dug a grave for myself and 
said, " When I fall sick I will lie down in this 
grave, and Jthe wind will blow the sand over me 
and cover me, for thus only can I be buried.” I 
blamed myself for my little sense and for going 
forth from my home where I was blessed with 
plenty and comfort. 

Then I thought, "The river that I saw must 
have a beginning and an end. I will make a raft, 
and I will let it carry me down the river. If I 
[242] 


SINDBAD THE SAILOR 


escape, well and good ; if not, it will be better to 
die in the river than in this place.” 

Then I arose and collected planks and pieces 
of wood and made a raft for myself, and having 
taken with me a large quantity of pearls and am- 
bergris, I launched the raft upon the river. Now 
the river came from beneath a cliff close by and 
disappeared in the earth under the opposite range 
of hills, and I was soon carried to a narrow place of 
intense darkness where the sides of the raft rubbed 
against the banks of the river and my head touched 
the roof above me. Then I blamed myself, saying, 
"If this river becomes narrower than the raft, 
I can neither go on nor go back, and I shall 
perish miserably.” I threw myself upon my face 
upon the raft and went on down the river, which 
sometimes widened and sometimes grew narrow 
again. Thus I lay there upon my face in the dark= 
ness and knew not whether the time were long 
or short. 

At length I awoke and found myself in the 
light. The raft was tied to the shore, and around 
me were a number of Indians. They spoke to me 
in their language, but I knew not what they said. 
Then a man advanced from among them and asked 
me in Arabic who I was and whence I had come. 

[243] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

'' I beg of thee, O my master,” I answered him, 
” to bring me some food, and then I will tell thee 
everything.” 

Accordingly he brought me food; after which 
I told him of all that had happened to me from 
beginning to end. 

Then the men took me with them to their king, 
who was the king of Serendib, and acquainted 
him with what had happened. And the king won- 
dered at the narrative and congratulated me upon 
my escape. 

The island of Serendib is eighty leagues in 
length and thirty leagues in width, and there is 
upon it a lofty mountain containing different kinds 
of minerals and jewels and covered with spice 
trees. After diverting myself with a view of its 
wonders I went back to the king and begged 
for permission to return to my own country. He 
granted this permission, and having given me a 
present and a sealed letter, he* said to me, " Carry 
these to the caliph Haroun al-Raschid and give 
him salutations from us.” I replied, " I hear and 
I obey!” 

Accordingly I departed thence and returned to 
Bagdad. The caliph conferred favors upon me, and 
I continued to enjoy the same pleasant life which 

[244] 


SINDBAD THE SAILOR 

had formerly been mine. I forgot all my troubles 
and was full of joy. Come to me to-morrow, O 
Hindbad, and thou shalt hear my seventh story. 

So the porter as usual went away satisfied, and 
returned on the following day to listen to the 
story of the seventh voyage. 

SINDBAD’S SEVENTH VOYAGE 

When I gave up my voyaging my whole time 
was spent in pleasure. But while I was sitting in 
my house one day, a page from the caliph came 
to me and said, The caliph asks for thee.” 

I therefore went with the page to his majesty 
and kissed the ground before him ; whereupon he 
said to me : " O Sindbad, I have an errand for 
thee. Wilt thou do it? ” 

So I said, O my lord, what is the errand ? ” 

” I desire to send a letter and a present to 
the king of Serendib,” he answered me. And I 
trembled as I replied : " O my lord, I have taken 
a hatred to the sea. I have no desire to go forth 
from Bagdad.” And I told him of all that had 
happened to me from first to last. He wondered 
exceedingly and said, ” O Sindbad, surely no such 

[245 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

events have ever happened before. But for my 
sake thou wilt go this time, and thou shalt return 
with all haste, if it be the will of Allah, and we 
shall no longer owe a debt of courtesy to the 
king.” 

So, since I was unable to refuse his demand, 
I replied that I heard and obeyed. He then gave 
me the present and the letter, and money for my 
voyage, and I kissed his hands and departed. 

I went from Bagdad to the sea and embarked 
on a ship, and we had a fair voyage to the island 
of Serendib. 

As soon as we arrived I went to the king and 
kissed the ground before him. And when he saw 
me he said, A friendly welcome to thee, O Sind- 
bad.” Then he took me by the hand and seated 
me by his side and showed me the greatest cour- 
tesy and kindness. I offered to him the pres- 
ent and the letter, saying : O my lord, I have 
brought thee a present and a letter from my mas- 
ter, the caliph Haroun al-Raschid. The present 
consists of a horse worth a thousand pieces of 
gold, and a book, and a rich dress, and a hundred 
different kinds of white cloths from Egypt, and 
Greek carpets, and silk, and flax, and a wonderful 
crystal cup.” 


[246] 


SINDBAD THE SAILOR 

Then the king gave me many presents and 
treated me with honor, and after a few days I took 
leave of him to return to my own country, having 
no desire for further travel. 

On our homeward voyage there suddenly ap- 
peared a number of boats, which surrounded us. 
In them were armed men, who conveyed us to an 
island, and here they sold us as slaves. A rich 
man bought me and carried me to his house, 
where he fed and clothed me and treated me in 
a friendly manner. One day he said to me, ” Dost 
thou know any trade ? ” And I answered, " O my 
lord, I am a merchant, and can make nothing with 
my hands.” And he said, " Dost thou know how 
to shoot with a bow and arrows ? ” And I said, 
Y es, I know that.” So he brought me a bow and 
arrows and mounted me behind him upon an ele- 
phant. We departed at dawn, and coming to a 
lofty tree, he made me climb it, saying : " Sit here, 
and when the elephants come to this place, shoot 
at them with thine arrows. If one of them should 
fall, come and tell me.” 

He then left me and I was full of terror. Pres- 
ently the elephants came wandering about among 
the trees, and I shot one of them. I went to my 
master and told him, and he was pleased with me 

[247] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


and treated me with favor. He then carried away 
the slain elephant, in order that he might take the 
tusks for ivory. 

In this manner I went on day after day, until 
one morning, as I was sitting in the tree, suddenly 
a large number of elephants came forth roaring 
and trumpeting. They surrounded the tree in 
which I was sitting, and a huge elephant, having 
wound his trunk around it, pulled it up by the 
roots. I fell down senseless among the elephants, 
and the large one lifted me to his back and went 
away, with the others following. 

They came to a place where he threw me upon 
the ground, and I was left alone. All around me 
were the bones and tusks of elephants, and I 
doubted not that this must be their burial place, 
and that they had brought me hither in order that 
I might not kill more of them, since I did it only 
for their tusks. I marveled at their intelligence and 
journeyed a day and a night to find my master, 
who was overjoyed at my news. We went together 
to the place, and when he saw all the tusks his 
heart was glad. He carried away what he desired, 
and we went back to his house. He treated me with 
much kindness and said : " Thou hast shown me 
the way to great riches. Now thou art a free man.” 

[248] 


SINDBAD THE SAILOR 

Then I said to him, " O my master, wilt thou 
give me leave to go to my own country ? ” And 
he answered : " Yes, thou hast permission ; but the 
time of our fair, at which we sell the ivory, is now 
near. It will be better for thee to wait until then. 
When the merchants depart from us I will send 
thee with them.” 

Soon after this the merchants came in a ship, 
and when they had bought and sold and exchanged, 
they took me away with them. We went from 
island to island and from place to place until we 
had crossed the sea and landed on the shores of 
the Persian Gulf. Here the merchants took forth 
what they had brought with them and sold it. I 
also sold what I had, and purchased beautiful 
presents and everything that I desired. Then I 
bought a beast to ride upon and crossed the 
deserts from country to country till we came to 
Bagdad. I went in to the caliph and saluted him 
and kissed his hands, after which I told him all 
that had happened, and he rejoiced at my safety 
and had my story written in letters of gold. This 
is the end of the history of my voyages. 

When Sindbad had made an end of his story 
he bade his servants give Hindbad a hundred 

[249] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


pieces of gold, and said to him : ” How now, O 
my brother? Hast thou ever heard of such dis- 
asters as I have suffered, and do I not deserve 
these pleasures as a compensation for what I 
have endured ? ” 

Upon this Hindbad came forward and kissed 
his hands and said: "O my lord, thou hast in- 
deed endured much and art deserving of all thy 
favors. Put away from thee now the memory of 
thy troubles, and may Allah grant thee a long 
life to enjoy thy good fortune ! ” 

Sindbad then made the porter his friend and 
companion, and the two lived together in all hap- 
piness until they were visited by the destroyer of 
delights and the separator of companions. 


[250] 


PRINCE ZEYN AND THE KING OF 
THE JINN 


r^HERE was once in the city of Balsora a 
sultan who was exceeding rich. He had 
one son, Prince Zeyn, a youth of great 
charm and intelligence. The young man had been 
carefully taught in all branches of human knowl- 
edge and was the pride of his father’s heart. 

" O my son,” said the sultan one day, " I am 
growing old and feeble, and I desire to caution 
thee as to what thou shalt do when thou shalt rule 
in my place. Beware lest thou oppress the poor 
or fail to listen to their complaints ! Spend wisely, 
and for thy subjects as well as for thyself. And 
trust not to the great ones of thy kingdom, but 
listen rather to the voice of the common people.” 

Not long after this the old sultan died, and 
Prince Zeyn reigned in his stead. But he forgot 

[251] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


the wise words he had heard and gave himself up 
to the pleasure of spending his vast wealth without 
regard to the good of his people. It was not long 
before he was as poor as he had been rich, and he 
then found himself deserted by those who had 
formerly praised and flattered him. 

One night Prince Zeyn was restless. Hour after 
hour he tossed upon his bed, bewailing his folly. 
At length he fell asleep and dreamed that he saw 
an old man, who said to him, " O Zeyn al-Asnam, 
if thou wouldst put an end to thy present troubles, 
depart from Balsora and go to Cairo, where fortune 
awaits thee.” 

When Zeyn awoke he went to his mother and 
told her what the old man had said. She laughed 
at him and said : ” O my son, put not thy faith in 
dreams. Cairo is a long way from here, and a 
journey thither can bring thee no good.” 

But the young man was not to be put off. After 
a long and wearisome journey he arrived at the 
famous city and lay down beside a mosque to 
sleep. In his dreams he saw the same old man, 
who said to him : " I am well pleased, my son, that 
thou hast given heed to my words. Thou hast 
shown courage and resolution. Return now to Bal- 
sora, and thou shalt find wealth at thy very door.” 

[252] 



THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

In some disappointment Prince Zeyn returned 
to his palace, where his mother met him with re- 
joicing and advised him to forget his dreams in 
working for the good of his people. 

That night, after the young prince had gone to 
his bed, he again had a vision of the old man, who 
said to him : " O Zeyn al-Asnam, the time has 
come. Take then a pickax, and go to the palace 
wherein thy father spent his last days. Dig in the 
earth there, and thou shalt find what will make 
thee rich.” 

When Zeyn told his mother of his dream she 
laughed at him, saying as before, " Put not thy 
trust in dreams.” But he answered, " Nay, this 
dream is to be believed, for the old man spake 
truth.” 

" Go and dig,” said she then. At least thou 
wilt not have to travel to Cairo.” 

So he took a pickax, even as the old man had 
said, and going to his father’s palace, he began to 
dig in the earth. Presently he saw an iron ring 
fixed in a slab of marble, which, being lifted, dis- 
closed a staircase leading to a great hall, wherein 
were jars of green jade filled with gold. He took 
a little of the gold in his hand and went to find 
his mother. 


[254] 


PRINCE ZEYN AND KING OF THE JINN 

'"Beware,” said she, "lest thou spend this 
foolishly also.” 

" Have no fear, O my mother,” answered Zeyn. 
" I promise to do nothing without thy approval.” 

Then she went back with him, and shortly they 
espied a very small jar of the finest jade, in which 
was a tiny golden key. 

" O my son,” said the queen, " this will doubtless 
unlock a door which will lead to other treasures. 
Let us look about. Perchance we may discover it.” 

After a long search they found a keyhole in one 
of the panels of the wainscoting, and the door 
being opened, they could look into another hall, 
in which were eight wonderful statues, each cut 
from a single jewel. On a curtain of silk was 
fastened an inscription which read as follows: 
" O my son, I have toiled long to bring together 
these priceless statues, but there is another image 
which is even more precious. To find it thou must 
go to Cairo and seek out Mubarek, who was once 
my slave. He will direct thy search. Thou wilt 
find him without trouble, for he has become one 
of the chief men of that city.” 

So Zeyn set forth again for Cairo, and this 
time the queen found no fault with his decision. 
Mubarek, the former slave, lived in great splendor. 

[255 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


When he heard all that the son of his old master 
had to tell, he put his whole fortune at the young 
man’s disposal. 

" O my lord,” said he to the prince, " I never 
received my freedom from thy father. Therefore 
all that I own is thine.” 

" It is my pleasure,” replied Zeyn, '' to give thee 
thy freedom and to make no claims to thy wealth. 
I ask in return thy help in finding the ninth statue.” 

" That I will gladly give,” answered the grateful 
Mubarek, " but the enterprise will be full of danger. 
Rest here, therefore, while I gather a suitable 
escort.” 

Prince Zeyn waited with much impatience, for 
he was eager to begin his journey. In a few days 
everything was in readiness, and they set out, 
Mubarek cautioning the young man to spare him- 
self undue fatigue. "We are about to visit,” he 
explained, " the dreadful place where the ninth 
statue is kept. Summon up thy courage as we 
approach, for it will be sorely tried.” 

After several days of traveling they reached a 
grove where all the company dismounted. Leav- 
ing their horses with the attendants, the young 
prince and his guide proceeded on foot. "We are 
now,” said Mubarek, " near the end of our journey. 

[256] 


PRINCE ZEYN AND KING OF THE JINN 

Soon we shall come to a lake, and thou wilt see a 
boat which belongs to the king of the jinn. We 
shall be taken into this boat, which is enchanted, 
and ferried across the lake. See that thou showest 
no fear of the oarsman, however hideous he may 
appear. Nor must thou speak a single word while 
thou art with him, or the boat will instantly sink.” 

Presently the travelers reached the shore of a 
lake and saw a small boat moored near by, but 
they had hardly arrived at the water’s edge when 
a terrible monster made his appearance. His body 
was like that of a lion, and he had the head of 
an elephant. Lifting first the prince and then 
Mubarek into his boat with his trunk, the ferryman 
conveyed them across the lake, and putting them 
ashore in the same way, vanished without a sound. 

The island upon which Prince Zeyn now found 
himself was of the greatest natural beauty. Flowers 
and plants perfumed the air, trees laden with 
fruit overhung the travelers’ heads, and all about 
them were singing-birds of every description. At 
length they came to a palace made of emeralds. 
Before the gate, which was of shining gold, sev- 
eral genii were on guard. The young prince 
was about to press forward undismayed, when 
Mubarek caught him by the hand. 

[257] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


'*We are now,” he said, "in a position which 
demands something more than mere courage. 
This is the home of the king of the jinn.” 

He then drew from his robe five sashes of yellow 
silk ; one he tied about his waist and another about 
his shoulders. Giving two to Prince Zeyn for the 
same purpose, he spread the fifth upon the ground. 
Lastly, both took their seats upon the sash, and 
Mubarek repeated these words, "O king of the 
jinn, we throw ourselves upon thy protection.” 

Then turning to the young man, he added : " If 
he accepts us, he will approach us in the form of 
a man. If not, he will take some frightful shape, 
but whatever happens, do not step beyond the 
cloth.” 

Mubarek now began his conjuring, muttering 
words that had no meaning to the prince. Soon 
cold rain began to fall, lightnings flashed, and 
thunder roared ; while in the midst of the tumult 
came a voice that made the earth itself tremble. 
The young man was troubled, but Mubarek 
laughed aloud. 

"Fear not, O my lord,” said he; "this uproar 
that disturbs thee is but the promise of success.” 

In a few minutes the skies cleared, and sweet 
winds blew upon them, nor did much time pass 
[258] 


PRINCE. ZEYN AND KING OF THE JINN 

before the king of the jinn presented himself in 
the form of a man. 

Prince Zeyn bowed himself before the noble 
figure and told his tale. 

" O Zeyn al-Asnam,” answered the king of the 
jinn, " I loved thy father, and it was I who gave 
him the eight statues. I caused him to write the 
inscription which sent thee upon this quest. It 
was I who appeared to thee in dreams, both in 
Balsora and in Cairo. Now I will give thee what 
thou seekest, provided that thou art worthy of 
such a trust. To prove it thou must find for me 
a maiden without spot or flaw either in her beauty 
or in her goodness.” 

That will I do, upon my royal word,” said 
Prince Zeyn ; '' but how shall I know when I have 
met with such a maiden? Of her beauty I may 
judge, but her goodness will not be so easily 
tested.” 

" Thou sayest well,” said the king of the jinn. 
" Behold ! here is a mirror which will reveal to 
thee the truth. If, when the maiden gazes into it, 
there is any cloud or mist upon its clearness, she 
is not the one for whom thou art seeking. Be 
faithful and diligent and forget not the promise 
thou hast made.” 


[259] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


The prince and Mubarek returned to Cairo 
even as they had come, but their search in that 
city was fruitless. Many beautiful maidens were 
to be found, it is true, but not one was able to 
stand the test of the magic mirror. Despairing 
of success in Egypt, Zeyn, still accompanied by 
Mubarek, traveled to Bagdad; and there, after 
many trials, he found, to his joy, a maiden as 
beautiful as the moon, whose reflection in the 
mirror was unsullied by mist or shadow. 

Zeyn at once demanded the hand of the young 
girl in marriage, since this was the only way in 
which he could carry her away to Cairo, and his 
suit being successful, the wedding was celebrated 
with the greatest splendor. 

" Now, O my lord,” said Mubarek, let us return 
with all speed and acquaint the king of the jinn 
with the news of thy success.” 

” Alas ! ” said the young sultan, could any 
jeweled statue, however priceless and beautiful, 
equal my lovely bride? Will it not be the part 
of wisdom to be content with my present good 
fortune and return to Balsora? How can I give 
her up to a genie ? ” 

O my lord,” cried Mubarek in dismay and 
indignation, " thou hast given thy royal word and 
[ 260 ] 


4 . 





THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


that is of more value than all else besides. I be- 
seech thee to hearken to me rather than to the 
voice of thy affections.” 

'' Let it be so,” said Prince Zeyn after a long 
struggle with himself ; but let me not see the 
maiden again, until the time comes for me to fulfill 
my agreement.” 

Accordingly they set out on the journey to 
Cairo, and in due time were once more in the 
presence of the king of the jinn. He gazed at 
the maiden a long while without speaking; then, 
turning to Zeyn, he commended his zeal and his 
faithfulness. " Return to thy kingdom,” he added, 
"and in its place thou wilt find the ninth statue, 
even as I have promised.” 

Zeyn took his leave, overwhelmed with sorrow. 
The coveted reward of his labors gave no sat- 
isfaction. On his arrival in Balsora his mother 
received him with joy and pride. 

" Let us go at once, my son,” she cried, " and 
look upon this wonderful image ! ” 

"Alas!” cried Prince Zeyn, "it has now little 
value in my eyes, compared with what I have lost. 
However, as I have paid so high a price for it, 
and as it is thy pleasure to do so, we will go 
and look at it.” 


[ 262 ] 


PRINCE ZEYN AND KING OF THE JINN 

They descended into the hall below the palace, 
where the eight statues were, and there on the 
ninth pedestal stood the veiled figure of a living 
woman. It was the maiden whom Prince Zeyn 
had carried to Cairo. When she saw the prince 
she said to him, Dost thou regret that thou 
must take me in place of the ninth image ? ” 
No,” cried the overjoyed lover, " for thou art 
more to me than all the jewels in the world.” 

Scarce had the prince finished speaking when 
a noise like thunder was heard, and the king of 
the jinn appeared. The mother of Prince Zeyn 
was filled with alarm and began to tremble. 

Fear not, madam,” the genie said to her. " I 
am thy son’s protector, as I was his father’s friend. 
O Zeyn al-Asnam, this is thy bride. Take her 
and love her and let no one come between her 
and thee.” 

Then the king of the jinn vanished from sight. 
Prince Zeyn immediately had the bridal cele- 
brated in every part of his dominions. For many 
years he reigned, judging, commanding, and for- 
bidding ; and he continued to live in joy and hap- 
piness with his lovely wife until there came to 
them the destroyer of delights and the separator 
of companions. 


[263] 



THE TALKING BIRD 

O NCE upon a time there lived a king of 
Persia, named Kosrouschah, whose cus- 
tom it was to wander about his city at 
night in disguise, in order that he might obtain a 
knowledge of affairs. One evening, in company 
with his vizier, he was walking through the streets 
where the poorer people lived, when he heard from 
within a house the voices of women in eager con- 
versation. Going near the house he peeped in at 
the door and saw three fair sisters who were 
talking together about what they most longed for. 

Said the eldest, " I wish I were married to the 
shah’s chief baker, for then I should have the finest 
and sweetest bread in the whole kingdom to eat.” 

Said the second, ”,I would rather marry the 
shah’s cook and eat of all the dainty dishes that 
are served in the palace.” 

[ 264 ] 


THE TALKING BIRD 

Then said the third, who was by far the love- 
liest of the three : " O my sisters, I should like to 
marry the shah himself. Perhaps I should be- 
come the mother of a prince whose hair would be 
gold on one side of his head and silver on the other.” 

The shah was amused at all this and deter- 
mined that he would gratify the three wishes. So 
he said to his vizier, " Mark well what house this 
is, and to-morrow bring these maidens before me.” 
"To hear is to obey,” said the vizier, and they 
went back to the palace. 

When morning came the vizier brought the three 
sisters to the king, who said to them kindly, " O 
maidens, what were you wishing for last evening ? ” 

Then the sisters stood silent with shame and 
embarrassment and for a time could not pluck 
up courage to speak, but at last, craving the 
shah’s pardon, they told him the whole story. 
When he had heard the wishes repeated he said, 
"It shall be as you have desired.” Accordingly 
the three weddings were arranged for. The eld- 
est sister was married to the chief baker, and the 
next became the bride of the head cook ; while after 
suitable preparations there was a grand royal wed- 
ding, and the shah took the youngest sister for 
his queen. 


[265] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

Now although each of the sisters had obtained 
precisely what she had asked for, the hearts of the 
two elder were filled with anger and jealousy. 
For many months they cherished these hateful 
feelings, and whenever they saw the young queen 
in her beauty and happiness they could only plan 
how to make her miserable. She, on the other 
hand, showed them all kindness and affection and 
was always eager to give them pleasure. 

In course of time the queen had a little son, and 
the elder sisters begged that they might take care 
of him. He was a beautiful child, but his cruel 
aunts were not moved by his beauty or his help- 
lessness. Wrapping the baby in a piece of an old 
blanket, they put him into a basket and set him 
adrift upon a canal which flowed under the palace 
windows. Then they went to the shah with a 
dreadful story which made him believe that the 
child was dead and that his wife had bewitched it 
in some mysterious fashion. At first the king was 
angry, but his vizier spoke soothingly to him and 
said : " O king, be not unjust ! Surely the child’s 
mother is not responsible for its death.” 

Meanwhile the basket which held the little 
prince was carried by the canal through the gar- 
dens and fell under the eye of the intendant of the 
[266] 





5f\> 


i 



THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

royal parks, who happened to be walking along the 
bank. When he saw what the basket contained 
he carried it home to his wife, saying : ” Allah has 
sent us a son. Take care of him as if he were 
our own, and he shall be a blessing to us in our 
old age.” 

The wife was greatly pleased, for they had no 
children, and in their delight they did not try to 
discover the child’s real parents. The following 
year another son was born to the queen, and the 
wicked sisters had no more pity for the child and 
his mother than they had shown before. They 
told a similar story to the shah, and they set the 
prince adrift on the canal as they had his brother. 
Fortunately, the intendant was again walking by 
the canal, and he carried the second child home 
to his wife. As for the shah, he began to feel 
that his wife was not so fair and good as she 
seemed ; and if the grand vizier had not protested, 
she would have suffered from his anger. 

A third time a child was born in the palace, and 
this time it was a beautiful little girl. She shared 
the same fate as her brothers and was taken home 
to the intendant’s wife to be brought up as her 
own daughter. As for Kosrouschah, he could no 
longer contain his anger and his disappointment, 
[ 268 ] 


THE TALKING BIRD 


and he ordered that his wife should be shut up in 
a cage in the public square, as if she were a wild 
beast. The vizier did not dare to interfere, and 
accordingly the poor lady was placed behind iron 
bars, where all might gaze upon her. But so 
great were her patience and her courage that 
many people pitied her and would have rejoiced 
at her release. 

Now as the three children grew older they were 
surrounded by constant care and tenderness. The 
elder prince was named Bahman, the younger Par- 
vez, and the princess Perizade ; all of these being 
famous names in Persian history. 

As soon as the princes were old enough, tutors 
and masters taught them reading and writing and 
all the arts and sciences, and as the princess was 
eager to learn she soon knew as much as her 
brothers did. In fact, all three made such prog- 
ress in their studies that they excelled in every 
branch of knowledge. The intendant had bought 
a piece of land outside the city and built for his 
family a house of great magnificence, surrounding 
it with a garden of wonderful flowers and shrubs. 
Here, when his years of active service were over, 
he retired to enjoy his children and his country 
pleasures ; and here, his time being come, he died. 

[ 269 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


Now neither the intendant nor his wife had ever 
told the three children the strange story of their 
coming into his home, and they all thought him 
to be their father. After the death of their supposed 
parents they continued to live happily together in 
all affection and loyalty. 

One day it happened that an old woman came 
to their door when the young princes were away 
and begged leave to enter and repeat her prayers, 
as it was the appointed hour of public worship. 
Perizade gave her a kindly welcome, and seeing 
that her guest was weary, offered her rest and 
refreshment before she went on her way. 

The old woman was one of those who devote 
their lives to pilgrimages and religious observ- 
ances, and the princess presently became eager 
to learn how her home compared with others 
which the wanderer might have visited. 

Tell me,” she said, '' what is thy opinion of 
this house and its furnishings? Is all as it should 
be, or is there something lacking ? I am not a 
traveler like thyself, and I shall be grateful for 
thy judgment.” 

Said the old woman, " Since thou hast asked 
me, I confess to thee that while the house and its 
furnishings are almost perfect, yet to my thinking 
[270] 


THE TALKING BIRD 


there are still three things which would make it 
even more beautiful than it is.” 

Then Perizade begged her to name the three 
things that were lacking, saying, ” Tell me what 
they are, that I may lose no time in obtaining 
them.” 

" O lady,” said the old woman, " the first thing 
is the Talking Bird. He is very rare and hard to 
find, but whenever he pours out his melodious 
notes thousands of birds fly to him from every 
side and join in his singing. The next thing is 
the Singing Tree, whose smooth and glossy leaves, 
when shaken by the wind, send forth tuneful notes. 
The third thing is the Golden Water, a single 
drop of which, if placed in a basin, will presently 
fill the basin full and will spout upward in a 
never-ending fountain.” 

" I am sure,” said the princess, " that thou canst 
tell me where these things are to be found, and 
how I can obtain them.” 

Then said the holy woman : These three won- 
ders are on the boundary line of the land of Hind, 
on the road that leads eastward from this very 
house. Let him who goes in search of them ask 
the first person he meets on the twentieth day of 
his journey, and he will be directed to the place 
[271] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

where they may be found.” Having said this, she 
rose and went her way. 

Perizade pondered deeply on what the old 
woman had told her, and the more she thought 
of it the more difficult did the adventure appear. 
When her brothers returned at night they were 
amazed to find her so unlike her usual gay and 
happy self. 

''O sister,” said Prince Bahman, ”why art thou so 
sad to-night.^ Tell us, I entreat thee, and either 
let us share thy sorrow or try to drive it away.” 

"It is nothing,” said the princess. 

But Prince Bahman persisted : " There is some- 
thing on thy mind, and I will never leave thee 
until I know what it is. Perhaps thou art weary 
of our affection, or we have annoyed thee in 
some way.” 

Then the princess saw that she must explain, 
so she said : " O my brother, this house which our 
dear father built for us has always seemed to us 
perfect and complete, but to-day I have learned 
of three things which it still lacks. These three 
things are the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, 
and the Golden Water, and ever since I heard of 
them my heart has been heavy from its desire to 
possess them.” 


[272] 


THE TALKING BIRD 


” O my sister,” said Prince Bahman, " I will go 
forth to-morrow at break of day in quest of them, 
if thou wilt give me some clue as to where they 
are to be found.” 

Accordingly Perizade told him all that she 
knew concerning these marvels, but the next 
morning, as he was about to set forth, she came 
to him with her eyes full of tears. 

"Brother,” she said, "give up this journey. It 
may be full of danger, and . I shall die of anxiety 
lest some evil overtake thee.” 

"My mind is made up,” said Bahman, "and I 
must carry out this adventure. But here is a token 
by which thou shalt know of my fate, be it good 
or ill.” 

Drawing from his belt a hunting knife, he gave 
it to his sister, saying : " If at any time thou hast 
a longing to know of my condition, pull this out 
of its sheath. If the steel is clean and bright, it 
will show that I am alive and well ; but if it is 
stained with blood, then thou wilt know that .1 
have perished.” 

With these words the young prince rode away 
on the road that led eastward to India. And upon 
the twentieth day he saw a hideous old man, sit- 
ting under a tree near a small thatched hut. His 

[273] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


hair was as white as snow, and his beard was so 
long that it swept the ground. Upon his head he 
wore a broad-brimmed hat, and his only clothing 
was a strip of matting bound about his body. 

From early dawn Prince Bahman had been 
watchful and vigilant, and this was the first human 
being that he had seen. So riding up to the old 
man and saluting him with all respect, he said, 
" O sir, may Allah prolong thy days and grant thy 
wishes ! ” 

The old man’s mustache was so heavy and long 
that not a word of his answer could be under- 
stood. Prince Bahman therefore pulled out a pair 
of scissors and said : " O holy man, thy lips are cov- 
ered by this long hair. Let me make thee less like 
a wild beast and more like a human being.” 

The dervish consented by a nod, and when his 
mustache was clipped, his face looked fresh and 
young. Then said the prince, " I would that I had 
a mirror to show thee how thou art improved.” 

This pleased the dervish, and he said, I thank 
thee, my son, and if in return I could grant thee 
a favor, I would do it with all my heart and soul.” 

Then said the prince : " O holy man, I have 
come from distant lands in search of three things 
— the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the 

[274] 


THE TALKING BIRD 


Golden Water. I have been told that they are 
near this place, and if thou knowest aught con- 
cerning them, I beg thee to tell me.” 

At these words the dervish turned pale. " O 
stranger,” he said, " it is true that I know where 
these things are to be found, but the path is hard 
to travel and beset with danger. Many have come 
to me and have demanded the road, and not one 
of them has returned to me safe and sound. If 
life has any value in thy sight, go back to thy 
home.” 

"Nay,” said Prince Bahman, "whatever the 
dangers, I am determined to make the attempt.” 

Seeing that the young man was not to be 
turned aside, the dervish thrust his hand into a 
bag beside him and drew out a ball. 

" Alas ! O my son,” he said, " I must even let 
thee follow thy willful way. Take this ball and 
throw it in front of thee. So long as it rolls upon 
the ground, ride after it, but when it stops at the 
foot of a hill, dismount and throw the reins upon 
thy horse’s neck, for he will not move until thy 
return. Then climb the hill. On each side thou 
wilt see a number of huge black stones. The 
sound of loud and terrifying voices will fill thee 
with fear, but be not dismayed, and, whatever 

[275] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


happens, do not look back. If thou cast but one 
glance backward, thou wilt be transformed into a 
black stone like those which lie scattered along 
the way. At the top of the hill is the cage that 
holds the Talking Bird. He will tell thee where 
to find the Singing Tree and the Golden Water.” 

Then the prince thanked the dervish and 
mounted his horse. When he threw the ball in 
front of him it rolled onward at racing speed, but 
as he drew near the hill he saw that it -had stopped. 
Dismounting, he threw the reins upon his horse’s 
neck and went on afoot up the steep slope as he 
had been told to do. Scattered along the path were 
the huge black stones of which the dervish had 
spoken, and scarcely had he taken a dozen steps 
when a frightful din arose behind him. Prince 
Bahman walked on bravely with his usual spirit 
for a while, but as the shouts drew nearer and 
nearer he was sadly disturbed. His legs began to 
tremble in spite of himself, his head was dizzy, 
and at length, unable to go farther, he looked 
back and was immediately changed into a great 
black stone. 

Meanwhile the Princess Perizade carried the 
little hunting knife in her belt, and every day she 
drew it forth to see how her beloved brother fared. 

[276] 


THE TALKING BIRD 


On the evening when he was changed into stone 
Prince Parvez said to her, ”0 sister mine, let me 
look at the knife to see if Bahman is safe.” 

As soon as the blade was drawn from the sheath 
the brother and sister gave a cry of horror, for it 
was stained with blood. 

" O my sister,” cried the young prince, I must 
set forth at once to discover what has happened 
to our brother.” 

It was in vain that Perizade begged him to stay 
with her, lest the same fate overtake him. Placing 
in her hand a string of pearls, he said to her,." So 
long as these pearls move easily back and forth 
upon the string, thou mayst be certain that I am 
alive and well ; but if they cling together, then 
thou wilt know that I am in danger.” 

The princess hung the pearls about her neck, 
and every hour of the day she fingered them to 
make sure that her brother was safe. As for him, 
he had followed in his brother’s footsteps and in 
twenty days had come to the dervish, who warned 
him, with even more than his usual energy, to turn 
back while there was yet time. But the prince 
would not listen to him, and having received one 
of the balls from the old man, he rode forward as 
his brother had done. 


[277] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

Scarcely had he begun to climb the hill, when 
he heard threatening voices crying out upon him 
to stop. Louder and louder sounded the insults 
and jeers, until in a rage he drew his sword and 
turned to smite his tormentors, when instantly he 
became a black stone. 

At this very moment Perizade was counting her 
pearls and was overcome with despair when she 
found that the beads were sticking together so 
closely that she could not separate a single one 
from the rest. 

" Ah, woe is me ! ” she cried in her grief ; " it 
is now only right that I should seek the fate to 
which I have sent my beloved brothers.” 

Accordingly the next morning she disguised 
herself as a man, and telling her servants that 
she was bound upon a long journey, she set forth 
upon the road to India. She was a skilled horse- 
woman, having shared all her brothers’ pursuits, 
and in twenty days’ time she, likewise, found 
herself at the hermit’s hut and begged for his 
assistance. 

” O stranger,” said the dervish when she had 
stated her wishes, "thy voice tells me that thou 
art a woman. Little canst thou dream of the 
dangers that lurk about yonder path. Better far 
[278] 


THE TALKING BIRD 

will it be to give up all thought of seeking the 
Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden 
Water, and to go back along the road thou hast 
just traveled. Others, braver and stronger than 
thou art, have lost their lives in the search. Return, 
I entreat thee, and forget thy quest.” 

O holy man,” said the princess, " I thank thee 
for the warning, but I shall never go back until I 
have succeeded in my attempt.” 

Then the dervish described to her all the ter- 
rors that would beset her as soon as she began 
the ascent of the hill. 

"It is clear,” she answered bravely, "that these 
voices can do naught but threaten me and try to 
frighten me by their terrible noise. Therefore I 
shall stop my ears with cotton, so that I may not 
be disturbed.” 

At this the dervish marveled greatly, for none 
of the others had thought of this device, and he 
said : " O lady, perhaps thou art destined to get 
the things thou art seeking. Take good heed to 
thyself, however, and forget not what I have said.” 

Then he gave her one of his balls and bade 
her farewell. The ball rolled along in front of her 
until it came to the hill. Dismounting, the prin- 
cess stopped her ears with cotton and began to 

[279] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


climb the slope. Immediately a furious outcry 
arose all around her, but because of the cotton she 
heard only a faint echo of the dreadful sounds. 

As she approached the top of the hill the path 
grew steeper and steeper and the uproar was more 
terrifying than ever, but she pressed on with never 
a backward glance, until she saw a cage wherein 
a bird was singing. Running across the level space 
which still separated her from the object of her 
search, she seized the cage, crying, " At last I have 
thee, and thou shalt not escape me ! ” 

Then Perizade pulled the cotton wool from her 
ears and heard the Talking Bird say: “O lady, be 
of good cheer, thy sorrows are ended. No harm 
can now befall thee. What is thy command, that 
I may hasten to carry out thy wishes ? ” 

Then said the princess, " There are many things 
I want, but first tell me if the Golden Water is 
near this place.” 

The bird directed her at once to the magic 
fountain, which was close by, and having filled a 
flagon which she had brought with her, she went 
on, " The third thing I am seeking is the Singing 
T ree.” 

" O princess,” said the Talking Bird, ” in yonder 
thicket the tree is growing.” 

[ 280 ] 


THE TALKING BIRD 

So she went quickly to the thicket and found 
the leaves singing in sweetest tones. But the tree 
had a huge trunk, and coming back to the bird 
she said reproachfully, ” I have found the tree, 
it is true, but how can I pull it up ? ” 

Then the bird answered : " Pluck but a tiny 
branch and plant it in thy garden. In a short 
time it will be as fair a growth as the parent tree.” 

So the princess broke off a twig, and now her 
spirits rose, and she was exceedingly joyful. Turn- 
ing to the bird, she said : " There is only one thing 
more that I crave, and I am sure that thou canst 
help me. My brothers, who ventured forth at my 
desire, are lying somewhere on this hillside in the 
shape of black stones. Tell me how they may be 
brought to life again, and my happiness fulfilled.” 

" O princess,” said the Talking Bird, "the thing 
is simple and easy. Sprinkle some of the Golden 
Water from thy flagon upon the black stones, and 
every one of them shall come to life.” 

Immediately Perizade started down the hill, 
and as she passed the black stones she sprinkled 
upon each one a few drops from her silver flagon, 
when lo ! they became men once more. Among 
them were her brothers, whom she embraced in 
delight. 


[281] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

”What are you doing here,” she chided them, 
” while I have been so anxious about you ? ” 

And they told her that they had been asleep, 
whereupon she could not forbear saying, " Y es, 
and you would have slept for all time had it not 
been for me.” 

Then all the other rescued men pressed about 
her, thanking her and praising her, but she said, 
" I was seeking my brothers, and my only purpose 
was to bring them back to life ; but since you have 
profited by this, I accept your thanks as another 
pleasure.” 

She then mounted her horse, and placing the 
cage before her on the pommel of her saddle, she 
gave the branch of the Singing Tree to Prince 
Bahman to carry and bade Prince Parvez take 
charge of the silver flagon. Now when they were 
ready to ride forth, the princess turned to the 
knights and squires around her and said : " Why 
do we delay our going? Is no one of you ready 
to lead us ? ” 

Then they all answered, ” O princess, there is 
none among us who is worthy to ride before thee.” 

So when she saw that no one would take the 
place of honor, she pushed on to the front, and her 
brothers and the rest followed her. And as they 
[ 282 ] 


THE TALKING BIRD 

journeyed they desired to see the holy man and 
thank him, but when they reached the place where 
he dwelt they found that he was dead. Nor could 
they know whether old age had taken him away, 
or whether he had perished because the princess 
had found the three things he had been appointed 
to guard. 

All the company rode on, and in time each went 
his own way and the princess and her brothers 
were left alone. At length they reached their jour- 
ney’s end, and on approaching the house Perizade 
hung the cage in the garden. No sooner did the 
Talking Bird begin to sing, than the air was filled 
with nightingales and skylarks and other songsters, 
that came flocking about him from near and far. 
She also planted the tiny branch which she had 
taken from the Singing Tree, and at once it took 
root and put forth branches until it was as large 
as the tree from which she had plucked it, while 
from its leaves went forth the most bewitching 
music. Lastly she ordered a basin of pure white 
marble to be set in the midst of the pleasure 
grounds, and when she had poured the Golden 
Water into this, a fountain immediately shot up 
into the air to a height of twenty feet, falling back 
into the bowl without the loss of a single drop. 
[283] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

In a few days the report of these wonders was 
noised abroad, and the folk came daily from the 
city to see them. The great gates always stood 
wide open, and all who wished might enter, and 
enjoy the marvelous sights and sounds. 

Some time later, when the princes had fully 
recovered from their long journey, they went on 
a hunting trip, as had been their custom. As it 
chanced, they met in the wood the shah, who was 
also in pursuit of game. So narrow was the path 
that the two princes dismounted, and saluting their 
sovereign with all respect, stood aside to give him 
room. Pleased with their courtesy and with their 
noble appearance, Kosrouschah asked them who 
they were. 

" O sir,” said Prince Bahman, " we are the sons 
of one whose life was spent in the service of the 
shah. As his days drew to an end he built him- 
self a house outside the city for us to live in until 
we were fit to do thee honor and to carry out thy 
commands.” 

Then the king said : ” The shah sees you are 
fond of hunting. Choose your game and let us 
see how skillful you are.” 

The princes immediately mounted their horses 
and rode off into the thickest part of the forest. 
[284] 


THE TALKING BIRD 


Here Bahman started a tiger, and Parvez a bear, 
and they soon brought their prizes to lay before 
their sovereign. 

"It is enough,” said the shah. " Come now and 
stand before your ruler while he is at dinner.” 

"We are unworthy of such high honor,” said 
Prince Bahman, " and moreover to-day we must 
beg to be excused ; but if our royal master will 
appoint another time, we will gladly wait upon 
him.” 

This refusal astonished Kosrouschah, and he 
did not hesitate to ask the reason for it. 

"May I be thy sacrifice, O king 1 ” answered 
Bahman, " but we have at home a dearly-loved 
sister, and neither of us goes anywhere without 
her knowledge and approval.” 

The king was pleased at Bahman’s reply and 
dismissed the brothers, saying, " Consult your 
sister, and to-morrow meet the shah at this 
place.” 

When the two princes reached home they forgot 
to tell Perizade that they had seen the king. And 
as they hunted in the forest the next day they 
came suddenly upon him and were filled with 
fear. As soon as he saw them, he cried, " What 
answer bring you from your sister ? ” 

[285] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

At these words the princes grew pale, and Bah- 
man said, "Pardon, O Refuge of the World, but 
we forgot the command and have not yet told 
our sister.” 

Then said the king, "It is no great matter. 
You are forgiven. Ask her to-day and bring me 
word to-morrow.” 

But again they forgot the message, and still the 
shah was not angry with them. Taking from his 
pocket three little golden balls, he gave them to 
Prince Bahman, saying : " Put these in thy girdle 
and thou wilt not forget again. When thou takest 
off thy girdle they will fall to the floor, and the 
sound will remind thee of thy promise.” 

Thus it happened. When Prince Bahman loos- 
ened his girdle at night, down fell the golden 
balls, and at the sound the shah’s message came 
into his mind. At once he and his brother has- 
tened to acquaint Perizade with all that had oc- 
curred. She grieved over their carelessness, saying: 
"It is a dangerous thing to forget royal wishes. 
The shah has been kind and courteous to you, 
and you have done foolishly and have caused 
me much trouble of mind. However, I will take 
counsel from the Talking Bird. Perhaps he will 
tell us what we should do.” 

[ 286] 


THE TALKING BIRD 

When the bird had been consulted, he said, ” O 
princess, it is thy duty to make ready a feast for 
the king and to invite him to this house and to 
show him all loyalty and devotion.” 

Now the next day, when the two brothers met 
Kosrouschah, he said to them, What answer do 
you bring ? ” And Bahman came forward and said: 
" O sir, we are thy slaves and will obey thee in 
all things. But we desire first to beg thy forgive- 
ness for our neglect and discourtesy. Our sister 
is sore displeased with us because we did not 
make haste to carry out thy commands.” 

Then the king said, "No crime has been com- 
mitted ; nay, it is good to see the love you bear 
your sister.” 

At these gracious words the princes hung their 
heads for shame, but the shah cheered them with 
his favor and friendliness and ordered them to 
ride by his side. On the way to the palace all 
eyes were fixed upon the two youths, and men 
asked one another: "Who are they that ride 
beside the shah ? Allah send him a son as gallant 
and brave ! ” 

The king received the princes in his private 
room, wherein a table had been richly spread, and 
having seated himself, he motioned to them that 
[287] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


they should do likewise. Then, to test their wit 
and wisdom, he urged them to talk, which they 
did with modesty and good sense. When at last 
they rose from the table, he exclaimed: "Never 
before has the shah set eyes on youths so well-bred 
and intelligent ! Come ye both again to-morrow.” 

Then Prince Bahman answered with all respect, 
"It is our dearest wish, O Refuge of the World, 
that to-morrow thou shalt condescend to enter 
our poor house and rest in it after the fatigue 
of the hunt.” 

The shah, more and more delighted with their 
courteous ways, thanked the brothers and agreed 
to accept their invitation; whereupon they returned 
to their home and told their sister of everything 
that had happened. 

" That is well,” said Perizade, " and now we must 
see to it that all is ready for a royal feast, or we 
shall be put to shame. I shall ask the Talking 
Bird to tell me what meats and dainties I ought 
to serve.” 

Accordingly the princess ordered the bird’s 
cage to be brought in, and asked for his counsel. 

" O princess,” he said, " thy cooks are of the 
best. Bid them prepare their choicest dishes, and 
all shall be well; only take pains that they set 
[ 288 ] 


THE TALKING BIRD 


before the shah some green cucumbers stuffed 
with pearls.” 

" What ! ” cried the princess in amazement. 
'' Never did I hear of such a dish. Besides, I have 
not enough pearls to stuff a single tiny cucumber.” 

"That is a small matter,” said the Talking Bird. 
"Go thou to-morrow to the garden at an early hour 
and cause a hole to be dug under the first tree at 
the right of the avenue. There thou shalt find all 
the pearls thou wilt require.” 

So after dawn on the next day Perizade went 
with a gardener’s boy as directed by the bird, and 
in a short time the lad’s spade struck upon some- 
thing hard. There in the ground was a golden 
casket nearly a foot square. 

" It is what I expected,” said the princess to the 
astonished boy, and she opened the box forthwith. 
Lo ! it was filled with pearls fresh from the sea, all 
of one size and perfectly suited to her purpose. 

Rejoicing with exceeding joy, Perizade ran back 
to the house and told her story. The two princes 
marveled at the tale and could think of no good 
reason for serving the shah with so strange a dish. 
But Perizade said, "The Talking Bird has always 
given good counsel ; therefore it is my part to do 
as he commands.” 


[289] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


The cook also listened in wonderment to his 
mistress. " I can see by thy face,” she said to him, 
” that thou thinkest something is wrong with my 
wits when I give orders for such a dish. But 
what is that to thee? Here is a box brimful of 
pearls; take what may be needed and make no 
talk about the matter.” 

While the amazed cook was carrying out this 
command, and the princess was taking a final look 
at the house and grounds to make sure that all 
was in readiness for their guest, the brothers rode 
forth in rich attire to meet him. As the day was 
warm, the shah soon gave up the chase and re- 
turned with the princes to their home. Perizade 
was ready to receive them, and when the shah 
saw her face he was astonished at her loveliness. 
She led him through the house and showed him 
the beauties of it, and he admired all that he saw. 

When they had examined everything within doors 
Kosrouschah said to the princess, " This house of 
thine is far grander than any palace owned by the 
shah, and he would now like to see the gardens.” 

Accordingly the princess threw open the outer 
door, and immediately a wonderful fountain was 
seen, clear as crystal and golden in color, throwing 
its waters high into the air. 

[ 290 ] 


THE TALKING BIRD 


The shah was gazing upon it with delight when 
a chorus of sweet voices came to his ears. He 
turned about in every direction to discover the 
singers, but no one was in sight. Completely puz- 
zled, he exclaimed, ” Whence come these wonderful 
sounds ? ” 

Then the princess said with a smile, "It is true, 

0 king of the age, that no singers are here, but 
walk a little further on and examine the tree that 
stands before thee.” 

Presently the shah turned to the princess in 
amazement and said to her : " O my lady, whence 
came so marvelous a tree? Was it brought to 
thee as a rare gift from some far land ? ” 

And Perizade answered, " O king of kings, the 
Singing Tree grows not in this country, it is true. 

1 obtained the tree and the Golden Water and the 
Talking Bird at one and the same time. Permit 
me to show this last wonder, and I will then tell 
the tale of these three things, while the shah rests 
from the fatigue of his hunting.” 

" The shah’s fatigue is gone already,” answered 
Kosrouschah, "so now let us visit the Talking 
Bird.” 

Then the princess led the king to the casement 
where the cage was hanging, and lo ! thousands 
[291] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


of songsters were filling the air with their music. 
And the shah marveled as he had done before. 

" Ho, my bird,” said the princess, " dost thou 
not perceive the king of the age ? ” Whereupon 
the Talking Bird ceased his singing, and all the 
other warblers sat in deepest silence. Then said 
the wonderful bird in a human voice, " O great 
king, may Allah grant thee health and happiness!” 
and the shah returned his salutation. 

Meanwhile the choicest foods had been placed 
upon the tables, and all the company took their 
seats. The dish of cucumbers was brought in and 
set before the king, whose seat was near the win- 
dow where the cage was hung. When he saw 
the cucumbers stuffed with pearls, he exclaimed : * 
"What is this dish.f^ It cannot be meant to be 
eaten. Why, then, is it placed before the shah ? ” 
As no one knew what to say, there was a silence 
until the Talking Bird answered: "O king of the 
age, dost thou think it so strange to see cucumbers 
stuffed with pearls ? And yet thou couldst believe 
that thy good queen had bewitched her three little 
children and caused their death. This should have 
been a far greater wonder to thee.” 

Then said the shah : " I believed the saying of 
the queen’s own sisters. What else could I do ? ” 
[292] 


THE TALKING BIRD 


O king,” said the Talking Bird, " none of the 
truth is hidden from me. They were the queen’s 
sisters, it is true, buf their hearts were filled with 
jealousy and anger and hatred. These two noble 
youths and this lovely lady are thine own children, 
who were taken away from thee by the wicked 
sisters and only saved by the decree of destiny. 
And now, O Kosrouschah, wake from thy neglect 
and ignorance, and know the truth ! ” 

When the shah heard these words, he said, 
'' O bird, I am indeed convinced that all is even 
as thou hast said, for my heart has yearned with 
affection toward these my children since first I 
saw them.” And he turned to them with tearful 
eyes as they ran forward to embrace him. Then 
they all sat down at the tables again, and when 
they had finished eating, Kosrouschah said, O 
my children, I must leave you now, but when I 
come again I will bring your mother with me.” 

So saying, he mounted his horse and departed 
to the palace, and as soon as he was seated upon 
his throne he said to the grand vizier : This 
moment thou shalt send and bind in heaviest 
chains the two wicked sisters of my innocent 
queen. They shall have the punishment that 
they deserve.” 


[293] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


Having said this, Kosrouschah went on foot to 
the place where the queen had been caged for 
so many years, and with his own hands he led 
her forth, tenderly embracing her and crying: 

May Allah forgive me for all my cruelty and in- 
justice toward thee ! Come with me to the palace, 
and shortly thou shalt see our two sons and 
our daughter, who have grown to be the loveliest 
of beings.” 

Then the queen donned her royal robes and her 
jewels and went with the king to meet her chil- 
dren, and all the folk of the city blessed her as 
she passed. The princes and their sister were 
waiting to greet their mother, and tears of joy 
flowed down their cheeks when she clasped them 
in her arms. 

Great rejoicings followed throughout all the 
kingdom. In her perfect happiness the queen for- 
got the sorrows of her captivity and lived to enjoy 
many years of comfort and satisfaction, blessed 
with the company of her children and husband 
and daily diverted by the marvelous Talking Bird. 


[294] 



ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL 
LAMP 


PART I 


~^HERE was once, in a city of China, a poor 
tailor named Mustapha, who had an idle, 
good-for-nothing son. This boy, who was 
called Aladdin, would not consent to learn a trade 
or to help his father in the shop, but spent all his 
time playing with the lads of the neighborhood. 

After a time Mustapha died, and his wife, seeing 
that her son was a lazy scapegrace, sold the shop 
and supported herself and the boy by spinning. 
One day when Aladdin was about fifteen years 
old, as he was playing with some lads of his own 
age he saw a stranger approaching, who seemed 
to watch him with much interest. Presently the 
man drew one of the boys aside and questioned 
him as to Aladdin’s history ; after which he came 
forward and spoke to the youth himself. 

[295 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

Tell me, my boy,” said he, art thou the son 
of Mustapha the tailor?” 

'' Yes, my lord,” answered Aladdin, '' but he has 
been dead a long time.” 

When the stranger heard this he threw himself 
upon Aladdin’s neck, embracing him and weeping 
so that the tears ran down his cheeks. Aladdin 
was astonished at this, and said, ” What is the 
cause of thy grief, O my lord ? ” 

The stranger answered in a mournful tone : 
” O my boy, canst thou ask me such a question 
when my brother, thy father, is dead ? I was re- 
joicing at the thought of seeing him, and now I 
hear that he is no more ! Show me, I pray thee, 
where I may find his wife.” 

So Aladdin pointed out the way to his home, 
and the stranger added, ” Take this money, my 
lad, and give it to thy mother and tell her that 
shortly I will visit her.” 

Aladdin ran home, breathless with joy, and 
greatly astonished his poor mother, who never 
looked for him except at mealtime. She was 
equally astonished at his story, for she had never 
heard of Mustapha’s brother. However, she arose 
and went into the market and bought all that was 
needful for her guest’s entertainment. 

[ 296 ] 


ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP 

As for the stranger, who was an African magi- 
cian, he appeared at the time of the evening meal, 
bringing with him wine and fruits. He saluted 
Aladdin’s mother and showed so much grief at 
her loss that she ceased to doubt his story. He 
told her that he had been an exile from his native 
country for forty years, that his home was in 
Africa, and that led by the desire to see his 
brother he had revisited the land of his birth. 
When he saw Aladdin at play in the street, he 
felt so sudden and deep an affection for the boy 
that he was convinced of his relationship. By 
this time, seeing that the good woman was in 
tears, he pretended to comfort her, and as if to 
distract her attention, he said to Aladdin, "'Well, 
my son, what craft hast thou learned, and what 
business dost thou follow ? ” 

At this Aladdin was ashamed and hung down 
his head, while his mother answered for him : 

He has learned nothing! So idle a lad I never 
saw. All day long he plays with the boys in the 
street, and as for me, my case is a sad one. I toil 
night and day spinning cotton, and I have little 
strength left.” 

Then the magician turned to Aladdin and said : 
" O son of my brother, how is this ? It is a disgrace 

[ 297 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


and a shame upon thee that thy mother should 
toil for thee now that thou art a man. Choose, 
then, the craft which pleases thee, and I will help 
thee to establish thyself in it.” 

The magician perceived by Aladdin’s silence 
that the boy had no mind to any craft at all. " Be 
not ashamed to speak thy thoughts,” he went on. 
" If a craft does not please thee, I will establish 
thee in a merchant’s shop, and thou shalt give 
and take and sell and buy in the city.” 

When Aladdin heard this he rejoiced exceed- 
ingly, and the magician, seeing him smile, said to 
him, " To-morrow I will take thee to the market 
and buy suitable clothing for thee, and after that 
I will set thee up in business.” 

Now Aladdin’s mother was convinced that the 
magician was indeed her brother-in-law, and she 
bade her son put away his folly and idleness and 
obey his uncle in all things. Aladdin could not 
sleep that night for joy, nor could he believe in 
his good fortune. But in the morning, behold ! the 
magician knocked at the door. He took Aladdin 
by the hand and led him to a shop and urged 
him to choose the costliest stuffs for his clothing. 
Then they went through the market, watching the 
buying and selling, and admiring the fine buildings. 

[298] 


ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP 

When night came the magician took the boy back 
to his mother and said to her: "To-morrow I will 
show him the gardens and parks of the city — 
it may be he has not seen them all — and he 
shall meet the merchant folk who are staying 
here, so that they may become acquainted with 
him. On Saturday we will open our shop.” 

On the morrow the enchanter knocked at the 
door, and Aladdin went in haste, like a spark of 
fire, to open to him. They went off together and 
walked among the parks and pleasure gardens 
until they were weary. At length they sat down 
by a lake to rest awhile and to eat of the food 
which the magician had brought in his girdle. 
After they had eaten and were refreshed they 
walked on until they came within sight of a high 
mountain. 

Now Aladdin had never before gone outside 
the gate of the city, and he said to the magician : 
" O my uncle, where are we going ? See, we 
have left all the gardens behind us, and I am 
worn out with fatigue.” 

" O my son,” said the magician, " this is the 
way, and the gardens are not yet at an end.” 

So he amused the boy with stories, until they 
arrived at a barren spot among the mountains. 

[299] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

” Now, my son,” said the magician, " sit here until 
thou art rested, and then fetch me a pile of sticks 
and grass and reeds, so that I may make a fire. I 
am about to show thee a very wonderful thing.” 

When Aladdin heard this he forgot his fatigue 
and fell to gathering brushwood and dry sticks. 

Then the magician took from his pocket a box 
of perfumes and made a fire of the sticks, mutter- 
ing strange words and incantations, so that Aladdin 
was alarmed. But the magician soothed his fear 
and said to him, ” O my son, obey me in all that 
I shall say to thee, and straightway thou shalt for- 
get thy trouble and fright.” As he spoke the sky 
darkened, and the earth opened at their feet, show- 
ing a flat stone in which was a brass ring. 

"Under this stone,” said the magician, "is a 
treasure that .shall make thee richer than all the 
kings. But thou must listen to what I have to tell 
thee and lose not a word of my speech.” 

At this Aladdin was filled with joy, and prom- 
ised obedience to his uncle’s slightest command. 

" Go then,” said the magician, " and lift the stone 
by the ring.” 

Accordingly Aladdin, taking courage, laid hold 
of the ring and raised the slab. Beneath it was 
a stone staircase which led down into the earth. 

[ 300] 


ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP 

" O Aladdin,” said the magician, ” do exactly as 
I shall tell thee, or evil will befall us both. Go 
down these stairs, and thou shalt find a place 
divided into four rooms, in each of which thou 
wilt see jars of gold and silver and precious stones. 
Pass by them all, taking care that thy clothing does 
not touch the jars or the walls, for in that case 
thou wilt become a black stone. Beyond, thou wilt 
find a garden full of trees and fruit, and at its 
further end there hangs a lamp that thou art to 
bring back to me. Pour out the oil and place the 
lamp in thy sleeve and fear not for thy clothing, for 
the oil is a magic oil and will do no manner of harm. 
On thy return thou mayst pluck any of the fruits 
in the garden, for all that thou seest will be thine.” 

Then the magician drew from his finger a ring 
and put it on Aladdin’s finger and bade him go 
down into the earth without fear. So Aladdin 
arose and went down, passing by the jars with 
all care and precaution, and at last he saw the 
lamp at the further end of the garden. He poured 
out the oil and, placing the lamp in his sleeve, 
gazed about him. He was amazed to see that the 
fruits of the trees were all precious stones, each 
tree bearing jewels of one kind ; and the size and 
brilliance of the gems were beyond description. 

[ 301 ] ' 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


Now Aladdin thought that they were all glass, 
as he knew not jewels nor their value, and he said 
to himself, " I will gather these glass fruits and 
play with them at home.” So he filled his pockets 
and his sleeves and his girdle with the gems and 
hastened back to the staircase, not looking, as he 
returned, at the jars of gold, though now he might 
have helped himself to their contents. 

When he came to the last step of the staircase, 
which was much higher than the others, he found 
himself so burdened with what he carried that he 
could not climb up without help. 

Give me thy hand, O my uncle, and help me 
up,” he cried to the magician. 

Give me first the lamp,” answered the magi- 
cian, leaning over to look into the dark cavern. 

Nay,” said Aladdin, '' I cannot reach it now, 
for it is wrapped in my sleeve.” 

Then the magician, who wanted the lamp and 
that only, was near to losing his wits for rage. 
At length, when he saw that Aladdin would not 
obey him, he abandoned all hope of obtaining the 
lamp and conjured and enchanted and cast per- 
fumes into the fire. Upon this the stone immedi- 
ately turned over into its place, and Aladdin was 
imprisoned below it. 


[ 302 ] 




THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

The magician, who had only pretended that he 
was the uncle of Aladdin in order to get the lamp 
by his help, — for in no other manner could it 
be obtained, — now went his way and returned 
to Africa in despair. 

As for Aladdin, when no answer was returned 
to all his outcries he went hither and thither in 
the darkness, seeking vainly for a door by which 
he might go forth. His weeping increased when 
he found that all the doors were locked, and that 
escape was impossible. He sat down on the steps 
and for long hours gave himself up to despair, 
but as he wrung his hands in his distress he 
happened to rub the ring that the magician had 
placed upon his finger. Instantly a genie rose be- 
fore him and said to him: What wilt thou ? I am 
thy slave — I, and the other slaves of the ring.” 

Aladdin shuddered at the genie’s frightful as- 
pect, but taking heart at last, he said, O slave 
of the ring, bring me out again upon the face of 
the earth.” Hardly had he finished speaking when 
the ground opened, and he found himself outside. 

Now he had been three days underground and 
had never expected to see the sunlight again. His 
heart was filled with joy and gratitude, and he ran 
quickly home to his mother to ease her anxiety. 

[304] 


ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP 

When he saw her he fainted with weakness and 
hunger and the happiness of his return. She 
brought him food and drink, and after he was 
rested and refreshed he told her of the magician’s 
treachery and of all that had befallen him in the 
treasure house. This recalled to his memory the 
lamp, which he pulled from his sleeve and showed 
to his mother along with the jewels he had gath- 
ered from the trees. Then, being weary, he went 
to his bed and slept until the next noon, when he 
awoke and asked for something to eat. 

Alas,” said his mother, '' I have naught to 
give thee. But I have spun a little yarn; let me 
go forth and sell it, and I will bring thee food.” 

O my mother,” said Aladdin, keep the yarn 
and give me the lamp which I brought home. I 
will sell that, and it may fetch more than the yarn.” 

So she arose and brought out the lamp, and as 
it was exceedingly dirty she began to scour it so 
that it might sell for a better price. Scarcely had 
she begun to rub it when there appeared to her a 
monstrous genie, who said to her : ” What wilt 
thou ? I am thy slave — I, and the other slaves of 
the lamp.” 

The poor woman was fainting with fear, but 
Aladdin hastened to take the lamp from her hand. 

[305 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

” O slave of the lamp,” he said, " we are hungry. 
Fetch us something to eat.” 

The genie was gone for the twinkling of an 
eye. When he returned he carried a great tray 
of silver, on which were twelve silver platters of 
meat and piles of bread whiter than snow. This 
he placed before Aladdin and his mother. 

"O my son,” said she, "dost thou think the 
sultan could have heard of our poverty Indeed, 
we should be grateful to him.” 

" This is no time for questioning,” said Aladdin. 
"The slave has disappeared. Come, let us eat.” 
But when they had finished eating he told her 
that the lamp was a magic one and must be 
carefully guarded. 

"Well, well,” said she, "do as thou wilt with it, 
but for my part I wish never to see that hideous 
creature again.” 

Aladdin and his mother lived in much comfort 
and happiness for a long time. When the food 
was gone Aladdin took the silver platters one by 
one and sold them in the market. The price of 
these was sufficient to furnish the household with 
all that was needed. Aladdin gave up his idle 
ways and went about with grown men, from whom 
he learned the rules of commerce. He went also 
[306] 


ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP 

to visit the jewelers, and soon discovered that the 
fruits he had brought home from the enchanted 
garden were not made of glass as he had sup- 
posed, but were wonderful jewels such as kings 
might sigh for. Moreover, he noted all the gems 
in the jewelers' market and saw none that could 
match with even the smallest of those he had at 
home. 

One day of days, as he was going forth to the 
market, he chanced to get a glimpse of the sul- 
tan’s daughter, who was diverting herself with a 
view of the city. She was so beautiful that Alad- 
din went home half distracted, and desirous only 
of making her his wife. When his mother heard 
his story she thought little of his good sense 
and begged him to dream no more of such an 
impossibility. 

Aladdin waited until his mother had finished 
her protest ; then he said to her : " O mother, I 
know full well that I am the son of poor folk, but 
all thy talk will not move me from my purpose. 
Help me to gain this desire of my heart, because 
thou art my mother and lovest me well.” 

” It is true,” said the good woman ; " I have 
none other than thee, and I will do all I can to 
please thee. But shall I dare to say to the sultan 

[307] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


that the son of a tailor seeks his daughter in 
marriage ? How can I venture upon this mad 
errand ? Whoever presents himself before the 
sultan to beg a favor carries in his hand some 
gift suitable to his high rank. What, then, have 
I to offer that would be worthy his acceptance ? ” 
O my mother,” said Aladdin, " what thou say- 
est is just and true. But I have a gift for the 
sultan that no king could offer. In my pockets 
and girdle, when I came forth from the treasure 
house, I brought jewels of great price, which at 
the time I believed to be glass. Fetch me, then, 
a dish and I will fill it with these jewels. I am 
convinced that thus the errand will be made easy 
for thee, and I shall attain my heart’s desire.” 

So Aladdin’s mother brought forth a china bowl, 
and he filled it with jewels of all kinds. So great 
was their radiance that his mother could not bear 
to look upon them, but shut her eyes to their 
excessive luster. 

” O my son,” said she, " thy present is costly, it 
is true, but what shall I say when the sultan asks 
me what is thy fortune and thy manner of life ? ” 

" Nay,” said Aladdin, he will not ask that when 
he sees the jewels, so do not make too much of 
the matter beforehand.” 

[308] 


ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP 

Accordingly she set forth with the dish wrapped 
in a fine handkerchief and found her way into the 
presence chamber, which she was able to enter 
because no one had yet arrived. She remained 
until all the business of the divan had been con- 
cluded, when she returned to her house, saying to 
her son, ” To-day I could not speak with the sultan, 
but be easy, for to-morrow I will surely plead thy 
cause.” Aladdin tried to hide his impatience, and 
on the following day again urged his mother to 
visit the divan. For a week the poor woman went 
every day, not daring to say a word, but standing 
motionless by the door. On the last day of the 
week the sultan said to his vizier : " O vizier, 
these six or seven days past an old woman has 
stood by the door, and I notice that she carries 
something under her veil. Knowest thou what 
she wants ? ” 

" O our lord the sultan,” said the vizier, ” it is 
likely that she comes here to complain of one of 
her folk.” 

The sultan was not content with this reply, but 
said, " Bring her before me at once, so that I may 
know what her need is.” 

So the vizier led Aladdin’s mother before the 
sultan, and he said to her : O woman, I see thee 

[ 309] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


come every day to the divan, yet thou sayest 
nothing. Tell me what thy wish is.” 

Then she called down blessings upon him and 
besought his pardon for what she was about to say. 
Being assured of his kindness, she went on, "O 
our lord the sultan, I have a son named Aladdin, 
who wishes to marry thy daughter, and I cannot 
get this notion out of his head.” 

Then the sultan burst out laughing and asked 
her, What hast thou in thy bundle ? ” And she, 
seeing that he was not angry, opened the handker- 
chief and displayed the jewels. When the sultan 
saw the jewels, which lighted up the whole room, 
he was bewildered by their luster and beauty, and 
said to his vizier: Never have I seen jewels of 
such size and radiance. Is not a man who can 
give me such a present worthy, indeed, to be the 
husband of my daughter?” 

Then the vizier was greatly dismayed, for he had 
hoped that his own son was to marry the sultan’s 
daughter. " O king of the age,” he answered, " give 
my son three months’ time, and he shall furnish a 
more wonderful present than this.” 

The sultan, knowing that it was impossible for 
such to be the case, nevertheless agreed to the 
delay ; but he said to Aladdin’s mother, " Go to 
[310] 


ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP 

thy son and tell him that my daughter shall be 
his ; yet I must ask him to wait three months, in 
order that we may prepare for her wedding.” 

Aladdin’s mother prostrated herself in grati- 
tude before the sultan, and then, almost flying 
in her joy, hastened homeward. Aladdin thanked 
her for all her kindness and trouble and rejoiced 
exceedingly at her news. "Now I am sure,” 
said he, " that I am the happiest man in all the 
world.” 

One day, after two months had passed, the 
mother of Aladdin, going out to buy oil, saw the 
folk setting candles and flowers in their windows, 
and troops of soldiers drawn up in the streets. 
She wondered what it could mean and said to the 
shopman, "Why are the houses decorated and 
the soldiers drawn up in state ? ” 

" Has no one told thee,” he replied, " that to- 
night the vizier’s son is to marry Badroulbadour, 
the daughter of the sultan ? The troops are wait- 
ing to escort him to the palace.” 

When Aladdin’s mother heard this she went 
home straightway with her sad tidings. At first 
her son was in a fever with disappointment and 
anger, but presently he remembered the lamp and 
his rage departed. After supper he locked his door, 

[311 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


and bringing out the lamp, he rubbed it vigorously. 
Immediately the genie stood before him, saying: 
" What wilt thou ? I am thy slave — I, and the 
other slaves of the lamp.” 

” Listen,” said Aladdin. ” The sultan has prom- 
ised his daughter to me, but to-night he is giving 
her in marriage to the vizier’s son. Go, therefore, 
and bring both bride and bridegroom hither to me.” 

I hear and I obey,” said the genie of the 
lamp, and disappeared. 

The next morning the sultan’s wife went to visit 
her daughter and found her in a sad state of terror 
and dismay. 

" O my daughter,” said the queen to her, tell 
me why thou art so troubled.” 

The princess raised her head and said : " Blame 
me not, O my mother, for my unhappiness. Last 
night a hideous creature came and carried us 
away to a dark, mean little house, where my 
bridegroom was taken from me, and I know not 
what was done with him. This morning he who 
carried us away brought us back to our place 
here, and what it all means I do not know.” 

The sultan on hearing this story was sore dis- 
tressed, and coming to his daughter, he kissed her 
and said to her, " This shall not happen to thee 
[312] 


ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP 


again.” And he ordered that the wedding fes- 
tivities should be stopped, and the marriage broken 
off. But he had forgotten his promise to Aladdin’s 
mother, nor did he guess who had carried away 
his daughter. 


PART II 

The three months having gone by, Aladdin sent 
his mother again to the divan to remind the sultan 
of his agreement. So she went to the palace and 
took her usual place. When the sultan saw her 
he remembered all that had happened, and said 
to his vizier: "What shall I do? It is true that 
I gave her my word, but she is a poor creature 
who belongs to the common people. What canst 
thou suggest ? ” 

The vizier, who was filled with envy and dis- 
appointment, said : " O my lord, it is not fitting 
to give thy daughter to such a man. My advice 
is to demand of him forty dishes of purest gold, 
filled with jewels such as he sent thee before, and 
forty slaves to bear the dishes, and forty other 
slaves besides.” 

" Thou speakest well, O vizier,” said the sultan; 
"for this is a thing he cannot do, and we shall 
be rid of him by fair means.” 

[313] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

Aladdin’s mother went home in despair, saying: 
" Where can my poor son find all these things ? 
Even if he goes back to the treasure house and 
plucks all the fruit from the trees, he must still 
provide the eighty slaves.” 

But when Aladdin heard his mother’s story he 
laughed and said : " O my mother, this is an easier 
thing than I had looked for. Come, let us eat, and 
leave me to arrange the matter.” 

Accordingly she went forth to buy food from 
the market, and Aladdin took his lamp and rubbed 
it. Immediately the genie appeared, saying, "What 
wilt thou, my lord ? ” 

" I seek the sultan’s daughter in marriage,” 
quoth Aladdin, " and he requires of me forty 
dishes of purest gold, filled with jewels like those 
in the treasure house and borne by forty slaves, 
with forty other slaves besides. Bring me these.” 

" I hear and I obey,” said the genie. 

Presently he returned with forty slave girls, 
each bearing upon her head a golden dish, full of 
precious stones. Forty other slaves stood behind 
these. Then he vanished, and shortly afterwards 
Aladdin’s mother entered the house. When she 
saw the slaves and the dishes she marveled and 
said, " All this is because of the lamp.” 

[314] 


ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP 

Then Aladdin said, O my mother, put not 
off thy veil, but take these at once to the sultan 
so that he may know that I can do all that he 
requires, even though he thought to baffle me — 
he and his vizier.” 

Then Aladdin opened the door and let out the 
slaves into the street, so that they filled it from 
side to side. And all the folk of the neighbor- 
hood stopped to gaze upon the magnificence of 
the sight and to wonder at the splendid dishes 
which flashed in the sun. So Aladdin’s mother 
led the procession to the sultan, and the slaves, 
raising the dishes from their heads, set them 
down before him. 

The sultan was dumb with amazement, especially 
as thi^ had been accomplished in an hour’s time. 

O woman,” he said to Aladdin’s mother, go 
to thy son and tell him that I abide by my promise 
to him, and bid him come hither that I may be- 
come acquainted with him. He shall receive all 
honor from me, and the bridal festivities shall 
begin this very night.” 

So the old woman returned home at such speed 
that the wind itself could not overtake her, and 
Aladdin saw the good news in her face. He kissed 
her hand and thanked her when she had told him 

[ 315 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


her message ; then he arose and went into his 
room and rubbed the lamp, whereupon the genie 
appeared. 

" Fetch me a suit of royal raiment,” said Alad- 
din, " and clothe me as if I were a king.” 

Then the genie carried him to a marvelous bath, 
and troops of slaves appeared with rich clothes 
and sweet perfumes. And though Aladdin was the 
son of a poor tailor, none would have guessed it, 
but all would have said, " This is a prince, the son 
of some great king.” 

The slave of the lamp then set him down in his 
own house, and said to him : '' What wilt thou ? 
Dost thou need anything more ? ” 

"Yes,” said Aladdin ; " bring me eight-and-forty 
mamelukes with horses and fine armor, ancj, bring 
me a royal steed for mine own riding, and bring 
me in each mameluke’s hand a thousand pieces 
of gold as a present for the sultan. Bring me 
also’ twelve slave girls to attend my mother to the 
palace, and for her use let each one bring a dress 
fit for a queen to wear.” 

" I hear and I obey,” said the genie, and in the 
twinkling of an eye he had brought to Aladdin 
all that he had commanded. Then the young 
man arose and set out for the palace, while the 

[316] 


[ ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP 

\ mamelukes rode before and after him, and the 

f people marveled at his glory. When the sultan 

I saw him he rejoiced at his grace and fine appear- 

; ance and made him sit at his right hand, 
i ” O my lord the sultan,” said Aladdin, " thou 
r hast kindly given me thy daughter, though I am 

f the humblest of thy slaves and all unworthy of 

I her beauty and goodness, but I beg thee to add to 

' thy favors by giving me a piece of ground on 

I which I may build a palace that shall be fit for 

f the princess Badroulbadour.” 

I The sultan, who was amazed at the ease and 
I grace of Aladdin’s speech, agreed to his proposal, 

! and as the talk went on between them his heart 

‘ warmed toward the young man. When they had 

feasted, the papers of marriage were made out, 

[ and then Aladdin rose to take leave ; but the sul- 

j tan laid hold upon him and said to him, " Whither 

[ away, O my son ? ” 

[ " King of the age,” answered Aladdin, I wish to 

order the palace to be begun at once. My first duty 
is to apply myself to my wife’s service and comfort.” 

" O my son,” said the sultan, " choose for thyself 
the piece of ground. All is in thy hand.” 

Then Aladdin took leave of the sultan and rode 
forth with his mamelukes, while the people gazed 

[ 317] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

upon him with admiration. When he came to his 
house he rubbed the lamp, and the genie appeared. 

'' I desire of thee an important service,” said 
Aladdin. " Build me with all speed a palace op- 
posite that of the sultan and let it be furnished 
with a richness and completeness such as no 
man has seen before.” 

" I hear and I obey,” said the genie, and disap- 
peared. Before the day broke he came again to 
Aladdin and said : O my lord, the palace is 
finished. Arise, then, and look at it.” 

So Aladdin arose and the genie carried him to 
the palace. Its stones were of jade and porphyry 
and mosaic and alabaster, and in its treasury were 
jewels and gold and silver beyond counting. There 
were dishes and cups and spoons of gold, and 
cooking dishes of purest silver; and there were 
chests overflowing with splendid stuffs for dresses 
and robes. In the stables were horses whose like 
had never before been seen, and their saddles and 
trappings were covered with pearls and precious 
stones. 

" One thing only is lacking,” said Aladdin. 
” Spread a carpet of fine brocade from my door 
to the sultan’s, so that my bride’s feet need not 
touch the earth when she comes hither.” 

[318] 


ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP 

The genie was absent a little while, and when 
he returned he said, "O my lord, it is done.” 
Then he took up Aladdin and set him down in 
his mother’s house. 

It was now bright day, and when the sultan 
looked forth he was astonished to see a magnifi- 
cent palace opposite his own and a carpet spread 
between the two buildings. 

” How now?” said he to his vizier. "Is not 
Aladdin a worthy husband for my daughter, 
since such riches must be his ? ” 

" O king of the age,” answered the vizier, " no 
man, whatever his wealth might be, could build a 
palace like that in a single night. It has been 
done by enchantment.” 

" I marvel at thee,” said the sultan, " that thou 
art so ready to think evil of Aladdin. I gave him 
leave to build his palace on this ground, and he 
who brought me those jewels of great price is 
doubtless able to do this also.” 

Meanwhile Aladdin arose and rode to the palace 
with his mamelukes behind and before him, scat- 
tering gold upon the people as he passed. And 
the wedding was celebrated with great splendor, 
the sultan marveling especially at the queenly ap- 
pearance of Aladdin’s mother. The princess went 

[319] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


in state to her husband’s new palace, and she was 
astonished at its magnificence. The table was laid 
and a feast was spread, while eighty slave girls 
sang, and played on musical instruments. There 
was mirth and good cheer among all the guests, 
and the bride was charmed with her husband’s 
intelligence and courtesy. " Verily,” said the sultan, 
" no king or kaiser could have equaled this.” 

So much for Aladdin, and now to return to the 
African magician. All this time he had been in 
his own country, bewailing his hard lot, but satis- 
fied that Aladdin was safely buried in the treasure 
house. One day, by enchantment, he discovered 
that Aladdin was alive, and that, by virtue of the 
magic lamp, he possessed unbounded wealth and 
had married the sultan’s daughter. Filled with 
rage and envy, the magician arose and set out 
for the land of China. 

When he came to the capital he heard the folk 
talking of the magnificence of Aladdin’s palace, 
and as soon as he saw it he knew that it was 
all the work of the genie. He learned, to his 
satisfaction, that Aladdin was absent from the city 
on a hunting trip, and he immediately planned 
a way to secure the lamp. He sought out a 
coppersmith and said to him, '' Make me several 
[ 320] 


ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP 

lamps, and I will pay thee liberally; but lose no 
time in the making.” 

" I hear and I obey,” said the smith, and speedily 
finished them for the magician, who, having paid 
a good price for them, put them into a basket 
and went about the streets of the city, crying 
out: "'New lamps for old ones. Ho! who will 
trade an old lamp for a new one ? ” 

When the people heard this they laughed at 
him, saying, " The man is mad, trading new lamps 
for old ones,” and they followed him about the 
city until he came near Aladdin’s palace. 

Now, as fate would have it, the wife of Aladdin 
heard the noise in the street and saw the crowd 
of folk about the peddler. So she sent one of her 
slave girls to see what the man was selling. Pres- 
ently the girl returned to her mistress and said : 
"The man is crying 'New lamps for old ones.’ 
Shall we not give him the old lamp in my lord 
Aladdin’s apartment, so. that we may see if the 
peddler speaks truth ? ” 

Now the princess had no knowledge of the 
lamp, and she was eager to learn whether the 
peddler were a knave or a fool, so she bade the girl 
fetch Aladdin’s lamp and exchange it for a new 
one. No sooner did the magician feel the lamp 
[321] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


in his grasp than he thrust it into his sleeve, and, 
leaving the basket to the folk who were trading 
with him, made his way outside the city. When 
he was alone in the open country he brought out 
the lamp and rubbed it ; whereupon the genie ap- 
peared and said to him : " What wilt thou ? I am 
thy slave — I, and the other slaves of the lamp. 
Seek of me what thou wilt.” 

"Take up Aladdin’s palace with all that it con- 
tains and myself also,” quoth the magician, " and 
set it down in my country of Africa.” 

" I hear and I obey,” said the genie. " Shut 
thine eye and open thine eye, and thou wilt find 
thyself and the palace in thine own country.” And 
immediately this happened, and the magician, with 
Aladdin’s palace, was set down in Africa. 

Now on the following morning, when the sul- 
tan woke from his sleep, he looked out, as was 
his wont, to see his daughter’s home; but when 
he opened his window he saw nothing but a level 
piece of ground. He rubbed his eyes in amaze- 
ment and sent straightway for his vizier. 

" O king of the age,” said the vizier, when he 
understood the cause of the sultan’s distress, " I 
told thee that the palace was the work of enchant- 
ment, but thou wouldst not believe me.” 

[ 322 ] 


ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP 

'' Where is Aladdin ? ” asked the sultan. And 
the vizier answered, " He is out hunting.” 

Then the sultan sent officers to fetch Aladdin 
to the palace and to bind him and shackle him 
with iron. So they came to him and bound him, 
and though he knew not the cause of such treat- 
ment, he said, Do what the sultan has commanded, 
for his word is law.” 

When Aladdin was brought into the city, bound 
and shackled with iron, the people were angered, 
for they loved him greatly. And when they heard 
that he was to be beheaded, they sent word to 
the sultan, If the least harm happens to Aladdin, 
we will pull thy palace about thine ears ! ” 

Thereupon the vizier said, '' O king of the age, 
it will be best to pardon Aladdin, for the common 
folk love him more than they love us.” So the 
sultan commanded the crier to go forth among 
the people and proclaim that Aladdin should not 
be harmed. 

When Aladdin found himself free, he went up 
to the sultan and said : O my lord, thou hast 
mercifully spared my life. Favor me yet further 
and tell me my offense.” 

"Show him his palace,” said the sultan to the 
vizier. When Aladdin looked from the window 

[ 323 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

and saw no trace of the great building he was 
bewildered and amazed. 

” What canst thou see ? ” went on the sultan. 

Where is thy palace, and where is my heart’s 
treasure, my daughter Badroulbadour ? ” 

" I know not,” said Aladdin ; ** but grant me 
forty days’ grace, and if I find her not in that 
time, I put myself in thy hands.” 

" I grant thee forty days,” said the sultan, ” but 
think not to flee from my anger, for if thou art 
upon the face of the earth, I will surely fetch 
thee back.” 

Then Aladdin went forth, perplexed and dis- 
mayed, for he knew not what had happened. And 
he wandered away from the city beside a river, 
and as he walked he rubbed his hands together 
in his grief and distress. 

Immediately the genie of the ring appeared, 
saying: " Here am I. I am thy slave — I, and the 
other slaves of the ring. What wouldst thou ? ” 
When Aladdin saw the genie he rejoiced ex- 
ceedingly. ” Bring me my bride,” he said, and 
my palace, and all that is within it.” 

Alas ! ” said the genie, this is a thing I can- 
not do, for the duty thou speakest of belongs to 
the slaves of the lamp.” 

[324] 


ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP 

'' Then,” said Aladdin, " since it is impossible to 
bring my wife to me, take me and set me down 
near her wherever she may chance to be.” 

I hear and I obey,” said the genie, and imme- 
diately Aladdin was set down beside his palace, 
in the land of Africa. By this time night was come, 
and weary with his grief and anxiety, Aladdin fell 
into a deep sleep. 

Now in the early morning the handmaiden of 
the princess opened the window and looked out. 

" O my lady, my lady ! ” she cried, ” here is my 
lord Aladdin ! ” 

Hearing these words, the princess ran to the 
window, and Aladdin lifted his head and saw her. 
In the twinkling of an eye the handmaiden had 
opened the door, and Aladdin was admitted into 
his wife’s pavilion. 

After a few moments of joy and delight they 
sat down, and Aladdin said : " There is something 
I would ask thee at once. I used to have in my 
room an old copper lamp — ” 

" O my lord,” interrupted his wife, " it was that 
which brought about all our misfortunes.” And 
she related to him the whole matter. 

” The wicked magician carries the lamp about 
with him in his sleeve, nor will he part from it a 

[325] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

single moment,” she went on. ” Every day at the 
approach of evening he visits me and implores my 
favor and threatens me with the power of the 
lamp, but never has he had from me a kind word.” 

When Aladdin heard this he rejoiced. " Listen, 
my beloved,” he said, " I shall shortly return to thee 
in disguise. Show no surprise, but let thy slave 
girl admit me quietly. I will find some means by 
which we may rid ourselves of this wicked one.” 

Then he went forth and disguised himself as a 
peasant and bought in the market a strong drug. 
On his return he was instantly admitted to the 
pavilion and gave the poisonous powder into his 
wife’s hand. 

” When the magician comes to makes his daily 
visit,” Aladdin said to her, " be gracious and pleas- 
ant to him. Give him to drink a cup of wine into 
which thou wilt put some of this powder. When 
he has drunk of the cup he will fall to the floor, 
and we shall no longer have cause to fear him.” 

” This is a hard thing for me to do,” said the 
princess, but it is lawful to slay him since in no 
other way can we escape from our enchantment.” 

So when Aladdin had departed she dressed her- 
self in fine raiment and made ready to receive 
the magician. He, believing from her changed 
[326] 


ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP 

appearance that she had at last given up her hope 
of rescue, rejoiced greatly at his welcome. 

" Let us sup together to-night,” she said to him. 
" If I sat grieving a thousand years, of what use 
would it be? Perhaps what thou saidst to me is 
true — that my father, the sultan, in the excess of his 
grief, has already banished Aladdin. Let us make 
merry then together, and put an end to sorrowing.” 

O my lady,” he answered, " I hear and I obey. 
I have with me in my own home some native wine, 
which I will fetch hither at once.” 

So after a little while he came in with the wine, 
and they sat down at table together. Then the 
princess gave him the cup in which the powder 
lay, and no sooner had he swallowed it than he 
fell back senseless on the floor. 

The slave girls ran to admit Aladdin, who was 
waiting outside. He kissed his wife’s hands and 
thanked her, and then hastened to take the lamp 
from the magician’s sleeve. Rejoicing to possess 
it once more, he said to the princess, '' Withdraw 
now with thy maidens to an inner room, and leave 
me alone for a little while.” 

Badroulbadour did not hesitate, but went away 
at once with her women, whereupon Aladdin drew 
forth his sword and slew the wicked magician. 

[ 327] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

Presently he rubbed the lamp and the genie ap^ 
peared, saying, " What wilt thou ? ” 

"Take up this building,” said Aladdin, "with 
all that it contains, and carry it to the land of 
China and set it down before the sultan’s palace.” 

" I hear and I obey,” replied the genie, and dis- 
appeared. And even while Aladdin sat talking 
with his bride the palace was lifted and carried 
through the air to its original place. 

Now the sultan had not ceased to mourn the 
loss of his daughter and to sit and weep for her 
at every time and tide. Each day when he awoke 
he would go to his window and look toward the 
place where Aladdin’s palace had stood. That day 
he rose at dawn, and looking out, was amazed to 
see a magnificent building. Rubbing his eyes, he 
looked again and was convinced that it was in- 
deed Aladdin’s palace. He called for his horse 
immediately, and as soon as the beast was saddled 
he started forth, but while he was crossing the 
space between the two palaces Aladdin met him 
halfway. Within the palace the princess was wait- 
ing, being eager to greet her father, and she came 
to meet them at the lower door. Then they all 
sat down together, and she told them everything 
that had happened. 


[328] 


ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP 

After a while the king arose, and going in with 
Aladdin to the pavilion, saw the magician lying 
dead upon the floor. 

” O my son,” he said to Aladdin, " forgive me 
for my harshness toward thee, but thou knowest 
how a father loves his children, and the princess 
is my only child.” 

" O king of the age,” said Aladdin, " thou hadst 
the law on thy side, but I rejoice that thou art 
willing to believe me to be innocent. Let us 
think no more of the matter, for it was all the 
fault of the wicked magician.” 

Then the sultan gave orders that the city should 
be decorated, and that festivals and rejoicings 
should be held for the space of a month. And 
afterwards Aladdin lived with the princess in all 
peace and pleasure and safety. On the death of 
the sultan, Aladdin sat on the throne and ruled 
justly over the people. 


[329] 



ALI BABA AND THE FORTY 
THIEVES 

PART I 

M any years ago there lived in a certain 
town of Persia two brothers, one named 
Cassim and the other Ali Baba. Their 
father had left a small fortune, and this was divided 
between them, but they soon spent all that they 
had. The elder brother, however, married the 
daughter of a rich merchant and in time became 
the owner of a large shop and of a warehouse 
filled with costly stuffs. Ali Baba, on the other 
hand, married a poor woman and was only able 
to make a scanty living by the sale of wood which 
he gathered daily in the jungle. 

Now it happened one day that Ali Baba had 
cut as much wood as his mules could carry, when 
[ 330] 


ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES 

suddenly he saw a cloud of dust moving rapidly 
toward him. As it came nearer he could see a 
troop of horsemen riding at full speed. Fearing 
that they were a band of robbers who would slay 
him and steal his mules, he drove his beasts into 
the bushes and hid himself in a tree. The tree 
grew close beside a steep rock which towered 
overhead, and when the horsemen reached the 
place, they came to a stop and dismounted. Ali 
Baba saw that they were forty in number and 
concluded rightly that they were highwaymen 
who had been robbing a caravan. 

As they came beneath the tree in which Ali 
Baba was sitting, they unbridled their horses and 
removed the saddle bags, which seemed to be very 
heavy. One of the men, the captain of the band, 
came through the underbrush until he reached 
the rock, when he said in a loud voice, ” Open, 
Sesame ! ” Immediately a doorway appeared in 
the rock, and when all the robbers had entered, 
the door shut of itself. Ali Baba remained hidden 
in the tree, not daring to move lest the robbers 
come forth and slay him. 

After a long time the door opened suddenly 
and the captain stood in the entrance. As his 
men came out he counted them, and when all 

[331] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


were once more outside the cave, he pronounced 
the magic words, "'Shut, Sesame!” and the door 
closed. 

Ali Baba remained quietly in the tree until 
the robbers were out of sight. Then he said to 
himself, I will see if at my bidding the door 
will open and close.” So he called aloud, " Open, 
Sesame ! ” 

No sooner had he spoken than the door opened, 
and he saw a cavern cut in the solid rock and 
lighted through holes in the roof. The room was 
filled with bales of stuffs and with heaps of coins, 
some gathered into bags and some scattered upon 
the ground. The sight of these riches convinced 
Ali Baba that for many years the cave had been 
the storehouse of thieves. He did not, however, 
stand long considering what he should do, but 
went into the cave, and as soon as he was inside, 
the door closed behind him. This did not disturb 
him, for he had kept in mind the magic words by 
which it could be opened again. Paying no atten- 
tion to the rich goods about him, he carried out 
several bags of coins and loaded them upon his 
mules. Then, covering his plunder with sticks 
and fagots, he called out, " Shut, Sesame I ” and 
the door closed. 


[332] 


ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES 

Ali Baba now hastened home to his wife with 
all speed. Having made fast the outer door, he 
poured out the glittering coins and told her of 
his adventures, at which she was much amazed. 
Presently she began to count the gold. 

" That is a foolish piece of work,” said Ali Baba. 
” Let me dig a hole and hide this treasure before 
our neighbors discover our secret.” 

"Well and good,” she said, "but first let me 
measure the money, so that we may know how 
much we have.” 

" So long as thou wilt keep this a secret and 
make haste,” Ali Baba replied, "do as it pleases 
thee.” And away she ran to Cassim’s house to 
borrow a measure. 

Now Cassim’s wife was curious to know what 
sort of grain her sister-in-law chanced to be buy- 
ing, and she secretly rubbed some wax and suet on 
the bottom of the measure. Suspecting nothing, 
the other went home and began to measure the 
gold while Ali Baba was digging a hole to bury 
it in. When all was done and the money had been 
safely hidden, she ran back to return the measure, 
not heeding the fact that a small coin was stick- 
ing to the bottom of it where the wax and suet 
had been rubbed. 


[ 333 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


When Cassim’s wife saw the piece of gold she 
said to herself, ”What! do they have so much 
gold that they must measure it ? ” And she won- 
dered greatly that a poor man, such as Ali Baba 
seemed to be, should have gained so much wealth. 
When her husband returned that evening she said 
to him : " Cassim, thou mayst think thyself to be 
a rich man, but Ali Baba is far richer than thou 
art. He has gold in such quantities that he has 
borrowed my measure to measure it in.” Then 
she told him all that had happened and showed 
him the gold coin she had found on the bottom 
of the measure. 

Instead of rejoicing at his brother’s good for- 
tune, Cassim was filled with envy. He could not 
sleep that night, and early the next morning he 
went to Ali Baba’s house, demanding an expla- 
nation of the matter. Ali Baba, seeing that it 
would be impossible to keep the secret, told his 
brother the whole story and offered him a part 
of the treasure. 

" I will go and fetch it away myself,” said Cas- 
sim, rudely. Tell me where the cavern is, and 
how the door may be opened. If thou art unwill- 
ing to do this, I shall keep thy secret no longer, 
and thou wilt lose all that thou hast.” 

[ 334 ] 


ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES 

Ali Baba was less moved by these words than 
by his own natural kindness of heart. He told his 
brother of the cave and of the steep rock and of 
the magic words which would cause the door to 
open. The next day Cassim, who had given close 
attention to these directions, set out for the cav- 
ern with ten mules which he had hired. When he 
came to the rock and had made sure that he had 
found the door, he cried, Open, Sesame ! ” and 
to his joy it opened wide, showing the piles of 
jewels and treasures within. 

He entered eagerly, and as he stood amazed at 
the sight of such vast riches, the door closed be- 
hind him. He walked about in delight, feasting 
his eyes on the bales of rich silks and the heaps 
of precious stones. At length he set to work, and 
filling ten bags with gold, he placed them by the 
entrance ready to load upon his mules. While 
busy in this way his mind was so filled with 
thoughts of his riches that the magic words were 
wholly forgotten. Instead of "'Open, Sesame!” 
he cried, Open, Barley ! ” and was terrified to 
find that the door remained shut. In his distress 
he repeated the names of all the grains he could 
remember, but the word had slipped from his 
mind as completely as if he had never heard it. 

[ 335 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


He threw down the bags of gold which he had 
loaded upon his shoulders, and paced up and 
down the cave in despair. 

About noon the robbers chanced to approach 
their treasure house and were amazed to see Cas- 
sini’s mules straying near the entrance. While 
some of the men searched in the forest for the 
owner of the beasts, the captain dismounted 
and pronounced the magic words which opened 
the door. 

Cassim, who had heard the noise of horses’ feet, 
suspected that the robbers were outside, ready to 
put him to death. Resolved to make his escape, if 
it were possible, he sprang out as soon as the door 
opened, knocking down the leader in his flight ; 
but he was soon overpowered by the other robbers, 
who fell upon him with their swords and killed him. 

The bags which Cassim had filled were found 
inside the door, but as the treasures which Ali 
Baba had taken were not missed, the robbers did 
not suspect that another person knew their secret. 
Lest it might happen, however, that some other 
traveler should find the place, they agreed to warn 
him of the fate that was in store for him. Accord- 
ingly they cut Cassim’s body into quarters and 
hung it inside the cave. Then they mounted 
[ 33d] 


ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES 

their horses and went back to lie in wait for an 
expected caravan. 

Now when night fell and Cassim did not return, 
his wife became very uneasy and ran to Ali Baba, 
crying : " O my brother, Cassim has not yet come 
home ! I know whither he went and on what 
errand, and I fear me some ill has befallen him.” 

Ali Baba himself was disturbed in his mind so 
that he could not sleep, and early in the morning 
he set forth with his mules for the forest. As soon 
as he reached the rock he saw signs of the struggle, 
and he pushed on to the cavern, greatly alarmed. 
When the door opened he knew that his worst 
fears were true, and in alarm for his own safety, 
he made hasty preparations to return. Wrapping 
his brother’s body in some cloths, he laid the 
bundles on the back of one of his mules and cov- 
ered them carefully with branches. Loading the 
other two beasts with bags of gold, he closed the 
door with the magic words and set forth home- 
ward. The gold he gave into his wife’s care, but 
with the other load he went to his brother’s house 
and knocked softly at the gate. 

Now Cassim’s wife had a shrewd slave girl, 
named Morgiana, who undid the bolt and admitted 
Ali Baba into the courtyard. Presently her mistress 
[ 337 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

appeared, crying : O Ali Baba, grief is written 
upon thy face. Say quickly what has gone wrong.” 

Then he told her the story and added, What 
was to happen has happened ; it is for us to keep 
the matter secret.” And the unhappy lady agreed. 
Ali Baba then consulted with Morgiana and went 
away, while the girl visited a druggist’s shop to 
carry out his instructions. 

” Who is ill at thy master’s house ? ” the drug- 
gist asked her. 

"Alas! ” she cried, " Cassim himself is sick unto 
death. He can neither eat nor speak. Give me at 
once, I pray, this powerful drug which the physician 
has ordered, or I fear I shall lose my kind master.” 

All that day Ali Baba and his wife were seen 
to go back and- forth between the two houses, and 
no one was surprised to hear at night that Cassim 
was dead. 

Early the next morning Morgiana sought out 
a certain old cobbler known as Baba Mustapha 
and put two gold pieces into his hand. 

" These are for thee,” she said to him, " if thou 
wilt take thy sewing tackle and go with me ; but 
when we come to a certain place thou must let me 
blindfold thee, so that thou shalt not see whither 
we are going.” 


[338] 


ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES 

'' Well,” said Baba Mustapha, looking at the 
money, though it was still so dark that he could 
scarcely see what it was, '' this is good pay. What 
am I to do to earn it? Wouldst thou have me 
do anything wrong ? ” 

'' Allah forbid ! ” said Morgiana ; ” ojily come 
with me and fear nothing.” 

When he had consented, the girl led him to the 
place she had mentioned and bound his eyes with 
a handkerchief. Then she led him to her master’s 
house, and taking off the handkerchief in a dark- 
ened room, she bade him sew together the quarters 
of the dead body so that they might have decent 
burial. After he had finished his task she gave 
him a third piece of gold and led him back to his 
shop in the same way as before. This done, and 
the body properly clothed in its funeral garb, notice 
was given to Cassim’s neighbors and friends, and 
the last services were performed with all respect. 

Everything passed in this manner without arous- 
ing the least suspicion. In a few days Ali Baba, 
as the nearest relative, removed his goods to the 
house of his brother’s widow, taking care to con- 
vey the gold thither by night. Not long afterwards 
his marriage with his sister-in-law was published, 
at which nobody was surprised. 

[ 339 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


PART II 

When the Forty Thieves came again to visit 
their treasure house in the forest, they were dis- 
mayed to find no trace of Cassim’s body. 

We must discover the truth of this matter,” 
said the captain, " or we shall lose all our riches.” 

Accordingly the band decided that one among 
them must go forth in disguise to find the man 
who knew their secret. Without delay one of the 
robbers agreed to undertake the quest and offered 
his life as forfeit in case he should fail. 

" It is well,” said the leader, ” for we are in des- 
perate case and must use desperate means if we 
are to save our lives and our treasure.” 

The thief therefore disguised himself as a trav- 
eler and went into the town just at daybreak. As 
he walked up and down, he came to Baba Musta- 
pha’s stall, which was open before the other shops. 

" My good man,” said the robber, ” thou art be- 
ginning work very early; is it possible that thou 
canst see at this hour? It is scarcely light.” 

Thou art a stranger,” said Baba Mustapha, 
"or thou wouldst know that I have very good 
eyes. Only yesterday I sewed together a dead 
body in a room much darker than this.” 

[340] 


ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES 


" Aha ! ” said the bandit to himself, " I certainly 
am in luck to-day.” Then to the old cobbler he 
said in pretended amazement : Thou art surely 
jesting. Couldst thou show me the house where 
thou didst so strange a job? Here is gold for 
thee if thou canst.” 

” I assure thee that it would be impossible,” 
said Baba Mustapha, "for I was blindfolded the 
greater part of the way.” 

"Well,” said the robber, "thou mayst remember 
a little of it. Come ; perhaps we may hit upon 
the very house.” 

The two pieces of gold were a great temptation 
to Baba Mustapha. After looking at them for a 
long time he slipped them into his purse and rose 
to his feet. " I dare not promise to find the way,” 
he said, " but I will do the best I can.” 

He then led the robber to the place where 
Morgiana had bandaged his eyes, and allowed 
them to be bound again in the same fashion. He 
walked slowly on down the street, counting his 
steps as he went, until at last he stopped directly 
opposite Cassim’s house, where Ali Baba now 
lived. 

" I think,” said Baba Mustapha, "that I went no 
farther than this.” 


[341] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


Accordingly the thief marked the door of the 
house with a piece of chalk and dismissed his 
guide. By a few questions in the neighborhood 
he learned that the late owner had died very sud- 
denly, and that Ali Baba, who a little while before 
had been so miserably poor, was now a rich man, 
although he had given to Cassim’s son the whole 
of the estate. From these facts the robber knew 
that Ali Baba was the person for whom he was 
searching. 

A little later Morgiana, going out of the house 
upon some errand, wondered greatly at seeing 
chalk marks showing white upon the door. 

” What is the meaning of this ? ” she said to 
herself. " Either an enemy plans to do my master 
harm, or some boy has been playing tricks. At all 
events it is well to guard against possible evil.” 

Accordingly she went into the house, and having 
fetched a piece of chalk, she marked two or three 
doors on each side in the same way, without saying 
a word to her master. 

In the meantime the robber had returned to his 
band in the forest and had told his tale. The cap- 
tain, after praising him for his diligence, said to 
his men : " Comrades, we have no time to lose. A 
single day may deprive us of uncounted wealth. 
[342] 


ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES 

I will go with the man who has brought us this 
good news, and when 1 have seen the house we 
will decide upon what shall be done. Go, then, in 
separate parties to the great square in the city, 
where I will shortly join you.” 

This plan being approved by all, they went off 
in small groups of two or three, so that they got 
into town without rousing the least suspicion. The 
spy led the captain into the street where he had 
discovered Ali Baba’s house, and when they came 
to a door marked with chalk, he pointed it out. 
But the captain saw that the next door was chalked 
in the same fashion and asked his guide if he were 
sure which house he had marked. The guide was 
so astonished that he had nothing to say, especially 
when he found that five or six others were also 
marked. 

The captain, seeing that the plan had failed, 
returned to the square where his band awaited him. 

" My men,” he said, ” we have had our labor in 
vain, and we must now go back to the forest. As 
for our guide, he condemns himself and acknowl- 
edges that he ought to have been more careful.” 

As it was for the safety of the troop that the 
guide should not go unpunished, he was put to 
death. Immediately another of the band presented 
[ 343 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


himself and promised that he would succeed where 
the first had failed. His offer being accepted, he 
sought out Baba Mustapha as the other had done, 
and having been shown the house, he marked it 
with red chalk in a place remote from sight. 

Nothing, however, escaped the watchful eyes 
of Morgiana, and when she saw the red chalk, she 
marked every other house in the street in the 
same manner. 

On his return to his company, the robber prided 
himself on his skill in concealing the mark, but 
when he and the captain visited the street they 
were wholly unable to decide which house it was. 
The troop, once more disappointed, put their sec- 
ond guide to death, according to the agreement. 

The captain, grieved by the loss of two of his 
companions, now declared that he would undertake 
the affair himself. Having found out, in. the same 
fashion as the others had, which was Ali Baba’s 
house, he made no mark upon it, but examined it 
so carefully that it was impossible for him to mis- 
take it. He then returned to his troop and laid 
his plans before them. 

" Go now,” he said to them, ” and bring in nine- 
teen mules, each carrying two large jars. One of 
the jars must contain oil, but the other thirty-seven 
[ 344 ] 


ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES 

are to be empty. I will put a man in each empty 
jar, but one of the mules will carry a man in one 
jar and oil in the other.” 

Things being thus arranged and the nineteen 
mules loaded, the captain drove them into the city 
and went directly to Ali Baba’s hou$e. Here he 
found Ali Baba sitting at his door, enjoying the 
cool evening air. The robber captain halted his 
mules and said : " Sir, I have some oil which I am 
to sell at to-morrow’s market. I have had a long 
journey, and it is now so late that I do not know 
where I am to find a lodging. If I might pass the 
night here, I should be greatly obliged to thee.” 

The request was readily granted. The servants 
unloaded the mules and took care of them, while 
Ali Baba bade Morgiana make his guest com- 
fortable. "In the morning,” he added, " I shall go 
to the baths very early. Have some broth ready 
for me when I come back.” 

After supper, while pretending to look at his 
mules, the captain went into the yard, and begin- 
ning at the first jar, said softly to each of his men, 
" At midnight, when I speak, come forth without 
delay.” He then returned to the house, and Mor- 
giana, taking a light, led him to the guest room 
which had been made ready for him. 

[ 345 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 

Now it happened that while Morgiana was fin- 
ishing her work in the kitchen her lamp went out. 
"The broth must be prepared for my master’s 
breakfast,” she said to herself, " and our oil is all 
gone. In yonder shed are many jars filled with 
oil. Surely the little that I need for my lamp will 
never be missed.” 

So she went into the shed and cautiously opened 
the first jar. As she did so, a voice within whis- 
pered, "Is it time ? ” 

"No,” she answered instantly, "not yet; be 
patient.” 

In this manner she went to all the jars, showing 
no alarm and giving the same answer, until at last 
she came to the jar of oil. Then, making what 
haste she could to fill her oil pot, she went back 
to the kitchen, lighted the lamp, and built a great 
fire of wood. Once more she visited the oil jar and 
filled a large kettle, which she set on the fire to 
boil. When this was seething hot she baled it out 
into a smaller vessel and poured enough of the 
oil into each jar to kill the robber within. 

Scarcely an hour had passed before the captain 
got up softly and satisfied himself that all was 
dark and still, but when he gave the signal there 
was no sound or movement in the shed. Alarmed 
[346] 


ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES 

by the silence he crept down into the courtyard 
and approached the first jar, which to his amaze- 
ment felt hot under his hand. Then he smelled the 
oil, which still sent forth a steam, and perceived 
that his plot had been discovered. He examined 
the jars one after another, but found no sign of 
life in any of them. Fearing for his own safety, he 
forced the lock of a door that led into the garden 
and made his escape. 

Morgiana waited some time after the captain’s 
departure, to make sure that he would not return. 
Convinced at length that no more would be seen 
of him, she went to bed greatly pleased to have 
succeeded in saving her master and his family. 

When Ali Baba returned from the baths in 
the early morning he was much surprised to see 
that the mules were still in the shed. He asked 
Morgiana the reason of it. 

My good master,” said she, " if thou wilt follow 
me, thou canst see for thyself.” 

She then led him to the jars and told him all 
that had happened. Ali Baba, grateful for her 
faithful service, gave her her freedom and a large 
sum of money, but she was so deeply attached to 
the family that she continued to live with them 
and to superintend the slaves of the household. 

[ 347 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


As for the captain of the Forty Thieves, he re- 
turned to the forest in rage and despair, and per- 
mitted several weeks to go by before he set about 
another scheme to destroy his enemy. He passed 
much of this time in the city, where he learned that 
Cassim’s son, now adopted by Ali Baba, had set 
up a good-sized shop. 

The captain also hired a shop in the bazaar and 
brought thither from the cavern bales of the finest 
stuffs. He announced himself as a merchant, and 
he had so large an assortment of goodly merchan- 
dise that he was treated by everybody with great 
respect. Young Cassim was among those who 
sought the favor of the new merchant and was 
most warmly received. The young man was flat- 
tered by this preference, and before long had in- 
troduced his friend to his adopted father. Ali Baba 
urged the pretended merchant to have supper with 
them, but the latter begged to be excused, saying, 
" My reason for declining the invitation is that my 
physician has forbidden me to eat salt in my food.” 

" If that be all the reason,” said Ali Baba, " de- 
prive us not of the pleasure of thy company. The 
food shall be prepared without salt.” 

But Morgiana was much dissatisfied. Who is 
this difficult man,” she said, " who eats no salt ? ” 
[348] 









THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


” What does it matter to thee who he is ? ” Ali 
Baba answered. ” He is my son’s friend, so do as 
I bid thee.” 

'Ht is well,” said Morgiana, but she still marveled, 
and when supper was served she carried in one of 
the dishes herself, so that she might have a glimpse 
of the strange visitor. As soon as she entered the 
room she knew him, notwithstanding his disguise, 
and looking at him closely, she spied a dagger 
liidden under his robe. 

" Aha ! ” said she, " that is why our guest will eat 
no salt. He intends to kill my master, but he has 
not counted upon me.” 

As soon as supper was removed, Morgiana ap- 
peared at the door, dressed like a dancing girl 
and wearing a silver girdl-e from which hung a 
jeweled dagger. Her face was veiled with a costly 
kerchief. As she came in she made a low curtsy 
by way of asking leave to show her skill. 

" Enter, by all means,” said Ali Baba, ” and let 
our guest see what thou canst do.” 

The robber captain was not greatly pleased with 
this diversion, but he pretended to be delighted, 
and Morgiana began to dance. After she had gone 
through several dances with much grace and spirit, 
she took her dagger in her hand and began a series 
[350] 


ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES 

of figures and difficult steps in which she showed 
the perfection of her art. Sometimes she pointed 
her dagger at Ali Baba, sometimes at his guest, 
and sometimes at young Cassim. At length, as if 
she were tired and out of breath, she snatched up 
her tabor in her left hand and presented it in turn 
to each one, after the manner of a public dancer. 

Ali Baba dropped a piece of gold into the tabor, 
as did his adopted son, but as the robber captain 
was drawing forth his purse from the folds of his 
robe, Morgiana suddenly plunged her dagger into 
his heart. 

Ali Baba was dismayed. "Wretched girl!” he 
cried, "what hast thou done? Thou hast ruined 
my good name.” 

" Nay, master, I have saved thy life,” answered 
Morgiana, as she flung back the guest’s robe and 
disclosed the hidden dagger. " Look well at this 
man and see what thou hast escaped.” 

When Ali Baba understood how much he owed 
the brave girl, he gave her his warmest thanks. 
." Since thou art already free,” he said to her, " there 
is only one other reward that I can bestow upon 
thee. I have seen that young Cassim has long been 
thy faithful lover. Thpu shalt become his wife 
and forever share the fortunes of my house.” 

[351 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


In due season the young man was married to 
Morgiana, and a great wedding feast was held. 
After some time Ali Baba ventured, with much 
care and caution, to visit the cavern, and was 
overjoyed to find that the treasure remained un- 
touched. Feeling now confident that no one else 
knew the secret of the place, he bound upon his 
saddle as much gold as his horse could carry and 
returned to his home, where he related the whole 
story to his family. With the wealth of the cave 
thus within reach, Ali Baba continued to prosper; 
and using his great fortune with wisdom and 
generosity, he passed the rest of his days in 
comfort and honor. 


[352] 


NOTES 


INTRODUCTION 

Page i. Samarkand: a city of Central Asia, once famous for its 
trade and learning. 

vizier (vi zer') : the chief officer under the king ; a prime 
minister. 

Page 2. tuck up his skirts : When an Oriental wishes to make 
haste he draws the skirt of his rope through his girdle, so that it 
shall not hang below the knee and hinder his progress. 

I hear and I obey : the form of speech expected from an in- 
ferior in rank, as sailors say " Aye, aye, sir ! ” to a commanding 
officer. 

Page 3. lifted the veil : It is not customary in good society in the 
East for a woman to meet any man outside her own family, and 
a man does not see his bride’s face until the marriage ceremony 
is over. 


THE MERCHANT AND THE GENIE 

Page 5. date stone : Travelers speak of a peculiar knack of throw- 
ing a date stone which makes it strike with great force. 

ge 7 iie (je'ni): The genii, according to Mohammedan tradition, 
were supernatural beings who frequently took bodily shape, either 
as beasts or as gigantic men and women. Some of them were 
held to be evil and malicious ; others were of kindly disposition. 

Page 6. sheik (shek) : an Arab chief, the head of a clan. Literally, 
an old man. Compare our word " elder.” 

Page 8. saluted the merchant : The Mohammedan salutation is 
” Peace be upon thee ! ” 

jinn : the plural of " genie,” used in speaking of the whole 
race, or of a group of genii. 

[353] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN 

Page 13. Solo 7 non : The son of David was as famous in Moham- 
medan tradition as in Jewish. Many of the legends originate from 
his knowledge of natural science. (See i Kings iv, 33.) Solomon’s 
signet ring, composed partly of brass and partly of iron, was said 
to have come to him from heaven and to be engraved with magic 
names and charms. With this ring he stamped his commands to 
the genii of the earth and the air. Some of the genii rebelled 
against his authority and were punished in various ways. See 
page 16, and the story of Camaralzaman, page 113. 

Page 17. Allah: the Mohammedan name for God. 

Page 20. as a present : The servants of the East were slaves. 

Page 2 1 . Indian cane : bamboo. 

Page 27. rubbish heaps : Oriental cities often have huge piles of 
rubbish outside their gates. 

Page 30. Moslems: Mohammedans. 

Magians : the followers of an old Persian religion. 
white^ 7 'ed^ blue^ a 7 id yellow : It was customary, and at one 
time obligatory, for Christians to wear blue turbans and Jews 
yellow, white being reserved for the Moslems. Possibly the 
Magians wore red, but it is more likely that this is pure fiction. 

Page 34. 7 na 77 ielukes : slaves trained for military service. They 
were usually white, and enjoyed certain privileges not given to 
the black slaves of a household. 

ca 77 te out to 77 ieet hwi : The story fails to tell how the vizier 
and the sultan’s escort had found their way home. 

PRINCE AGIB 

Page 35. calender: a begging friar who traveled from place to place, 
living upon the bounty of those who dwelt along the way. Lane 
speaks of the calenders as " royal mendicants.” 

Page 36. 77 iou 7 itai 7 i of loadstone : The legend of a magnetic moun- 
tain in the sea was common in ancient literature. Some of the 
Eastern tribes made ships without nails; this may account for 
one part of the story. 


[354] 


NOTES 


a horse 7 nan of brass : The Arabs had journeyed as far west 
as the Canary Islands, and the story of a similar statue was told 
by some of their travelers. 

talisjnajts : magic charms contained in certain written words 
or signs. 

Page 38. called upon Allah: probably by saying " Bismillah ! ” 
(in the name of Allah). This was constantly upon the lips of pious 
Moslems, who were supposed to say it before every important act. 
The educated Moslem of to-day calls upon the name of Allah 
less frequently. 

whose name be exalted : This is the usual translation of a phrase 
which is more properly rendered, " whose name is exalted.” The 
Moslem would think it blasphemous to intimate that the name 
of God could, by any human words of prayer, be made more 
exalted than it already is. 

Page 39. There is no god but Allah: This is from the Moslem 
profession of faith. 

Page 42. astrologers : men who profess to tell coming events by 
the stars. 

Page 43. checkerboard : This was really a checked cloth and not a 
board, but the game was similar to ours. 
hastened to fulfill : Note the belief in fate. 

Page 44. in which even a camel would sink : The camel’s foot is 
peculiarly adapted to walking in soft sand, as it is large and wide 
and the sole is covered with a pad or cushion. 

Page 45. blue stuff: The old Persian mourning was of a dark blue. 

Page 46. roc : more properly written " rukh,” but Galland has made 
" roc ” familiar. It was a fabulous bird of enormous size, which was 
supposed to carry away elephants to feed its young. The legend 
was widespread throughout the East. It was especially associated 
with the ocean south of Arabia, where there is in fact the largest 
bird that flies — the wandering albatross. 

Pa(;e 48. Compare the story of the forbidden door with a similar 
incident in ” Bluebeard.” ^ 

Page 49. sesatne (ses'a me) : a kind of grain, bee the story of Ali 
Baba. 

[ 355 ] 


THE ARABIAN N I G H S 


THE HUNCHBACK 

Page 51. Balsora : often written/' Bassorah ” and, in modern times, 
" Basra.” ” Balsora,” though familiar in literature, is a corruption. 
Large vessels could come up the river as far as Balsora. Bagdad 
was nearly three hundred miles farther on. 

Page 52. quart e 7 '-dinar : A gold dinar was worth about three dollars. 

PAfiE 54. Esdras aud Moses ^ etc. : famous characters in Jewish 
history. Esdras is familiar to us as Ezra. 

Page 55. air shaft : a ventilator, common in the Houses of the East. 

too jnuch wifie : By this it is supposed to be shown that the 
man was not a Mohammedan, to whom the use of wine would 
have been forbidden by his religion. 

Page 56. turban : a long roll of cloth wound round and round the 
head. The thickness of the roll makes it a useful defense against 
sunstroke and sword thrusts. 

Mussulman : a Mohammedan. The plural is ” Mussulmans.” 

Page 60. jester : an important person at an Eastern court. It was 
his business to entertain the king. At first the jesters were 
merely professional story-tellers. In Europe they were known in 
every court, and their uniform became a fantastic motley (a gar- 
ment of violently contrasting colors) with the fool’s cap and bells. 
Frequently, but by no means invariably, the jesters were a little 
crack-brained. Sometimes they were unusually shrewd. 

Page 61. Why art thou in such haste? The Arabs have many 
proverbs concerning the disadvantages of haste, and Eastern 
people, as a rule, do few things in a hurry. 

Page 62. Alnaschar : one of the first stories from the "Arabian 
Nights ” to become known in England. Addison used a transla- 
tion of it in the Spectator, in 1712. Compare the main incident 
with the familiar one of the milkmaid who counted her chickens 
before they were hatched. 

Co}nmander of the Faithful : the form of address used in 
speaking to the caliph. 

Page 65. displaying her : The custom of displaying a bride in her 
various costumes to her husband is one of long standing in the 

[356] 


N ( ) K S 


East. It is a woman's chief opportunity to show her wedding 
finery, and sometimes she appears in a succession of eight or 
nine different dresses. 

cloth of gold : a very rich, heavy cloth woven wholly, or in 
part, of threads of gold. 

1 ’age 66. Barmecide: The Barmecides were a wealthy Persian 
family who were honored by the caliph with many distinguished 
appointments. Becoming jealous, at last, of the power and influ- 
ence of his favorites, Haroun al-Raschid caused several of them 
to be executed or imprisoned. Among them was his famous 
vizier, Jaafar. Leigh Hunt’s poem, "Jaffar,” is of interest in 
this connection. 

Pa(;k 69. It is forbidden : See note on page 55. 

Page 70. clapped his hands : As bells are not used in Moham- 
medan countries, servants are summoned by clapping the hands. 

Pa(;e 71. silent man: This is sarcasm. The tailor has been com- 
plaining of the barber’s endless chatter. 

fell backward : This phrase, which is very common, is not so 
extravagant as our " dying with laughter.” As the Arabs sit 
upon rugs and not on chairs, it is often literally true. 

Page 72. destroyer of delights : This formula ends many of the 
tales, just as ” Once upon a time ” is the conventional beginning 
of English fairy stories. 

THE THREE APPLES 

Pac;e 81. No pitcher conies forth from the well foi'ever un- 
broken : We have a similar proverb. 

Page 84. mule .-In the East mules and asses are used by the gentry 
for riding on peaceful business. Horses are reserved for warriors. 

Page 97. cream tart: The cream tart was an invention of the 
translator, Galland. In the Arabic original the confection is a 
"mess of pomegranate seeds.” Nevertheless Bedreddin’s cream 
tart is now so famous that it would seem as pedantic to correct 
the phrase as to change Joseph’s coat of many colors, in the Bible 
story, to accord with modern criticism. 

Page 99. sahib (sa'ib) : equivalent to sir. 

[357] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


PRINCE CAMARALZAMAN 

Page iio. the posture of subinissioti : with hands clasped behind 
the back. 

Page 112. cove 7 'ed his face with the bedclothes : Burton says that 
the practice of sleeping with the face covered is common in the 
East, although Europeans find it difficult to imitate. 

Page 113. rebellious genii : See note on page 13. 

Cathay: Northern China. A name given to this region 
when Northern China and Southern China were separate 
countries. 

Page 119. Koran: the Moslem Bible. 

Page 120. The ability to make impromptu verses, as shown here 
by Camaralzaman, is highly rated among the Arabians. 

Page i 24. necrottiancy : that branch of magic which purports to 
consult the spirits of the dead. 

d 7 'essed hi 77 i m wo 77 ia 7 i's clothi 7 ig : otherwise he could not 
have been admitted to the women’s apartments. See note on 
page 3. Oriental women are still kept in great seclusion. 

Page 127. Khaluhm Islands: Burton identifies these with the 
Canary Islands. 

Page 128. Praises be to Allah: Such exclamations at the sight 
of beautiful persons are common in the Arabic text of the 
" Arabian Nights.” Sometimes instead of ” two beautiful girls ” 
it will say ” two girls to whose Creator be praises ! ” 

Page 133. d7V77iedaries : swift riding-camels. The camels men- 
tioned below were the ordinary ones used to carry baggage. 

piirses of gold : A purse of gold was a sum of money equal to 
about one hundred dollars. 

Page 135. Magians : These adherents to an ancient faith of Persia 
persecuted the Mohammedans whenever they had sufficient 
power. 

Islam : the name given to the faith of the Mohammedans and 
sometimes to the whole body of believers. 

Page 138. 7 nuezsin (muez'In): the crier in Moslem cities who 
several times a day gives the call to prayer. 

[358] 


N O 1’ E S 


Page 139. pressed it to his eyes : In this way he was supposed to 
extract its full benefit. 

carob (kar'ob) tree : an evergreen tree, bearing pods. 

Page 140. olives : These were ripe olives, and not the hard green 
fruit seen on American and European tables. 

Page 143. dirha 7 n (dir'ham): a coin worth about nine cents. 

Page i 46. take Hay at al-Nufus also for thy wife : This was 
quite in accordance with Mohammedan custom, and to the story- 
teller’s mind, Badoura shows her good breeding by making no 
objection to the arrangement. 

GULNARE OF THE SEA 

Page 172. na 7 nes e 7 tgraved 7 tpo 7 i the seal of Solo 771071 : See note 
on page 13. 

77 iore brillia 7 it tha 7 i the su 7 i : an example of the usual oriental 
exaggeration of speech. 

PRINCE AHMED AND THE FAIRY PERIBANOU 

Page 175. Bis 7 iagar: once a famous city of India, the capital of 
a kingdom. 

Page 178. ash 7 'afi (ash'ra fe) : a gold coin, the value of which varied 
at different periods. Its present value is about $1.70. 

Page 183. dervish: a Mohammedan friar, or a member of a reli- 
gious order pledged to poverty and sacrifice. 

salutatio 7 i : See note on page 8. 

ATI COGIA 

Page 201. 77iake pilg 7 'i 77 iage to Mecca: a religious duty enjoined 
upon all Mohammedans. They are not always able to fulfill it. 
During this annual pilgrimage, a custom which dates back to 
idolatrous times, the holy city is sometimes visited by 200,000 
strangers. 

Page 205. cadi (ka'di): a local judge. 

[359] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


SINDBAD THE SAILOR 

PACiic 217. King Mihraj : This is probably a corruption of maha- 
rajah^ the Indian word for " prince.” 

I^V(;p: 224. SindbacVs Third Voyage : Compare this with the Greek 
tale of Ulysses and the Cyclops. In some versions of the Arabian 
story, the giant has but one eye, which is ” like a burning coal in 
the middle of his forehead.’.’ 

Page 231. gathering pepper : Table pepper is ground from the 
dried fruit of an Indian plant. 

Pa(je 243. ambergris : a very valuable substance, used in making 
perfumes. It is found floating in the ocean along the east coast 
of Africa. Occasionally small masses of it are found on this side 
of the sea. 

Page 244. Serendib : the island of Ceylon. 

Page 245. Sindbad'^s Seventh Voyage: This story varies in the 
different editions. 

PRINCE ZEYN AND THE KING OF THE JINN 

Burton says that the hero should always be called Zeyn al-Asnam, 

as even that is a probable shortening of the full name, which means 

" ornament of the faith, and owner of the images.” He is commonly 

spoken of, however, as Prince Zeyn. 

Pa(;e 254. jade : a stone, usually green in color, which takes a high 
polish and is greatly valued. 

THE TALKING BIRD 

Pa(;e 264. shah : the sultan or king. 

Pa(;e 266. intendant : a superintendent or chief officer. 

Page 271. Hind : India. 

Page 279. stop my ears with cotton: Compare this with the story 
of Ulysses and the Sirens. 

Page 284. The shah sees you are fo)id of hunting : The Persian 
ruler’s dignity did not permit him to say "I.” 

[360] 


N () E S 


Page 285. A/aj I be thy sacrifice: a common form of speech in 
addressing royalty. It was intended to express courtesy and the 
utmost loyalty to the person of the king. 

They forgot to tell Perizade : Burton calls this a very improb- 
able feature of the story. 

Page 286. Refuge of the IVorld : a title of respect and courtesy. 

ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP 

Pa(;e 297. craft: trade. 

Page 306. Aladdm gave up his idle ways : This was part of the 
miracle of the ring, according to Burton. 

Page 307. jewelers' market : In Eastern market places it is custom- 
ary for all the shops of a kind to be located together. Sometimes 
whole streets are given up to the sale of one sort of goods. 

Page 309. divaji (dl van') : the Eastern royal court ; often a court 
of justice as well. 

PAfJE 319. the queenly appearance of Aladdin's mother : This was 
also due to the magic powers of the lamp. 

Page 322. Shut thine eye and open thine eye : a picturesque phrase 
equivalent to " in the twinkling of an eye.” 

PA(iE 328. the beast was saddled : The sultan’s dignity would not 
allow him to walk even so short a distance as this. When Haroun 
al-Kaschid made his famous pilgrimage afoot from Bagdad to 
Mecca, as demanded by his religion, the whole way was spread 
with strips of carpet. 

ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES 

Page 331. Sesame: See note on page 49. 

Page 338. cobbler : This is " tailor ” in some versions. In India it is 
improper in general conversation to speak of a worker in leather, 
because he belongs to low caste in Hindu society, and so the 
Hindustani version gives ” tailor ” in preference. 

Pa(;e 339. marriage with his sister-in-law : A common arrange- 
ment when a man died was for his brother to marry the widow 
and take over the property. 

[ 361 ] 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


Page 345. The request was 7 -eadily granted : It would have been 
contrary to Arabian ideas of hospitality to have refused. 

Morgiaiia led him to the guest roofn : Slaves, of course, were 
not included in the rule which forbade the appearance of the 
women of the household. 

Page 350. Our guest will eat no salt : According to Eastern 
laws of entertainment, a man’s loyalty to his host was sealed 
when he had eaten salt at the other’s table. The refusal to taste 
salt was therefore suspicious. We have a more general rule of 
social courtesy which forbids unfriendly comment upon one whose 
hospitality we have accepted. 

The following story is interesting in this connection. The 
founder of a certain dynasty of Persia was in his youth a robber. 
On one occasion he broke into the palace of a neighboring 
prince and collected a large quantity of treasure. As he was 
carrying this away, his foot struck something which, upon tast- 
ing, he found to be a lump of salt. Horrified at the notion of 
robbing a man whose salt he had eaten, he departed without 
taking anything with him. When the heap of treasure was found, 
suspicion rested upon him and he confessed his original intention. 
Moved by the man’s fidelity to the " pledge of salt,” the prince 
took him into his service, and in time he succeeded to the throne. 
See Ezra iv, 1 4, for a phrase having a similar bearing. 


[362] 


PRONOUNCING LIST OF NAMES’ 


Agib (a'jib ; in Arabic, a jeb') 
Ahmed (a'med) 

Aladdin (a lad'In ; in Arabic, a la' 
M den') 

Ali (a' le) 

Allah (al'a; in Arabic, al lab') 
Alnaschar (ill na.sh'ar) 

Armanus (ar ina nobs') 

Baba (ba ba) 

Badoura (ba dbb'ra) 
Badroulbadour (bad'robl ba door') 
Bagdad (bag dad') 

Bahnian (ba'nuVn) 

Balsora (bal so'ra) 

Barmecide (bar'me sid) 

Beder (bbd'er) 

Bedreddin Hassan (bfd red den' 
ha'san) 

Bisnagar (bis na'gar) 

Cairo (ki'ro) 

(^amaralzaman (kftm a l al'za man ; 

in Arabic, ka'ma raz za man') 
Caschcasch (kilsli'kilsh) 

Cassini (ka'sim) 

Cathay (kath a') 

Cogia (ko'ji a) 

Dahnash (da'nash) 


Dinarzade (de iiiir za'de) 

Esdras (ez'dras) 

Gnlnare (gbbl nar' ; in Arabic, 
jbbl la nar') 

llaroun al-Raschid (ha robn'ar ra 
shed') 

Ilayat al-Nufus (ha yat'al nob 
fobs') 

Hind (hind) 

Hind bad (Innd'bad) 

Houssain (hob sin') 

Islam (is'lam ; in Arabic, Is lain') 
Jaafar (ja'far) 

Khalidan (ka IT dan') 

K basil) (ka seb') 

Koran (ko ran') 

Kosrouschah (kos'rbb sliii') 
Magiaii (ma'jl an) 

Mainioune (mi mbb'ne) 

IMarzavan (mar za van') 

Mesrour (iiies rbbr') 

Miliraj (me* raj') 
iVIirza (mer'za) 

Morgiana (iiibr ji a'na) 

Moslem (moz'lem) 

Mnbarek (mob ba'rbk) 
Mussulman (miis'iil man) 


1 In Arabic the accent is likely to Rill toward the end of a word ; 
sometimes the syllables are stressed evenly, 

[ 363 1 


THE ARABIAN NIGHTS 


Mustapha (moos ta'fa) 
Noureddin Ali (iiodr'Sd deii'ade) 
Jsouronnihar (nodr'don ni liar') 
Parvez (par'vez) 

Peribanou (per i ba noo') 
Perizade (per i za'de) 

Kalian (ra ban') 

Saleh (sa'le) 

Samarkand (sam ar kant') 
Scliaibar (slii bar') 


Scheherazade (she ha ra za'de) 
Serendib (ser en deb') 

Shacabac (shac a bac) 
Shahrinian (sha ri man') 
Shahriyar (sha ri yar') 
Shahzenian (sha ze man') 
Shemseddin (sheni sed den') 
Sindbad (shid'bad) i 
Tartary (tar'tary) 

Zeyn al-Asnam (zan al as nam') 


Notk. a study of these names is interesting. Thus, Agib means 
" strange ” or " wonderful ” ; Ali, ” lofty”; Baba, ”papa”; Camar- 
alzanian, "moon of the age”; Hassan, ” beautiful”; Maimoune. 
” luck-bringer ” ; Mesrour, "happy”; Allah, '^Hhe god” (that is, 
the only one) ; Shemseddin, ” sun of the faith ” ; Aladdin, "glory of 
the faith ” ; Bedreddin, "full moon of the faith” ; Noureddin, "light 
of the faith”; Badroulbadour (also written Badroulboudour, Bedr- 
ulbudour, and Badr al-Budur), "full moon of full moons”; and 
Ilayat al-Nufus, "life of souls.” 


1 In the Arabic, llindbad and Sindbad are Hindibad (bin ili bad') 
and Sindibad (sin dibiid'). 


[ 364 ] 





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